RSSiPod's Headphones Cause Hearing Loss
By Ed Oswald | Published January 19, 2006, 11:59 AM
The popular iPod may be doing more harm than good, especially to the hearing of the user, doctors say. According to Christine Albertus, an audiologist with the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wisconsin, iPod users should limit their use of the device to two hours or less per day.
The problem lies in the in-ear headphones Apple offers for the device. Before, music blasted from the speakers of their home audio systems. With the advent of the Walkman, the sound moved closer to the ear through muff-style headphones.
Now, with the iPod and other MP3 players, sound is now pumped directly into the ear, which is a potential health issue. "We're moving sound closer and closer. It's really increasing pressure on the ear," Albertus said.
Hearing damage can also accumulate, says Albertus. Even at reasonable levels, damage can occur after continuous listening. This problem is becoming prevalent in today's youth. "Fast forward, and they may be hearing aid candidates by the time they're in their early 40s," she said.
A medical journal recently estimated that as many as one out of every eight children already have noise-induced hearing loss. The U.S. Government's Occupational Safety & Health Administration guidelines indicate listening to noise at a level of 80 decibels -- roughly the level of heavy traffic or a noisy resturant -- for eight hours can cause damage.
Take that up to 100 decibels -- the level of factory machinery, a nightclub, or a snowmobile -- and even one or two hours can cause damage, Albertus says.
To prevent hearing loss, Albertus recommends practicing "hearing conservation." This means wearing earplugs or noise-reducing earmuffs in situations were persistent loud noise is an issue.
"Realize what causes hearing loss and use common sense. If you're exposed to loud sounds, use ear protection," she said.
Doctors have been warning of this for years. I see deafness beginning to ocurr in people as young as thirty. What hasn't been discussed to any degree is the effect the low bass tones pumped up to a window vibrating level. It can cause instant anger in some folks. I feel that there is a huge misconception that music must be loud to be appreciated. I wonder who has the patent on loud. Time for the lawyer hacks to let go the big tobacco teets and latch on to the big noise maker's you know whats and make them fess up to the damage their products cause to young ears.
Score: 0
|Couldn't agree more, drumcat.
These attention wh0re headlines, which blame iPods for all the ills of modern society, are so tiresome.
Score: 0
|This article is ludacris. It does not matter where sound is comming from or how it's produced. It's all about how many db and how long exposure lasts. One thing that the hearing doctors always told me was that your ears will "get used to" a volume level so people will always want to turn the volume louder over time. Maybe that's what the doctor was really meaning when talking about "normal" volume levels causing damage
One thing I found really good is the truly in-ear phones from http://www.etymotic.com/ They totally block out all the ambient sound so you don't have to turn the volume up loud at all.
Score: 0
|As a person who been in the music and sound industry and has hearing loss, I can say one thing. Loud music will damage hearing, but it is not so much the loudness but the EQ that will cause the damage. The higher frequencies go first, so many don't realise it is happening to them. The argument may be going on for years, but it does happen. Maybe read Pete Townsend's article on hearing loss on his site.
Score: 0
|Why blame the I-pod though?? Look at any other audio device!! It really makes no difference. It is really the person using the device that makes the hearing loss happen. Think about it, it is really common sense. This argument has been going on for years...
Score: 0
|hmmm, I guess nobody wants to be remembered of how selfdestructive we humans really are. and at the pace we keep our economies "booming", we'll soon have no other place to go but underground. but hey, who cares if we destroy our surroundings anyway ? music is one escape possibility with not too much harm compared to other ways of escapism. so of all other items like: plastics, syntethic additions in our food, the throw away economy, the degeneration of moral values, our hypocritic world watchdog attitude, etc etc, why pick this item ? looks like Banquo has a strong point....
Score: 0
|I hate the stupid iPod fad but this is hardly anything new. We've known listening to loud music whether with headphones, your car, or a concert can cause hearing loss for a long time. Sounds like someone just wants to stir up a bit of attention for himself.
Score: 0
|OK, this has been a dispute for years, and isn't limited to iPod headphones, it has to do with Volume. People listen to their music very loud, because the earbuds don't block out outside noise, and therefore people turn their earbuds louder so they can hear their music without interruption.
I remember this coming up over 20 years ago, when I bought headsets that fit inside the ear, and they said the same thing, and that complaint died down, and never was heard from again. In fact this if the first time I have heard of hearing loss from headphones since then.
Personally, I have a car stereo, and I have 2 amps, 1 for my sub and 1 for my internal speakers. I consistently listen to my music at around 80 db.. I am not sure how loud that really is, but the point is, I listen to very loud music, yes with the thump and everything..
I do this everyday, going to and from work about an hour each way. I like my music very loud. So, I have been doing this for years, my hearing is better than probably everyone I know. I can hear stuff when other people can't (no my ears aren't ringing). I have very good hearing, even after years of loud music.
Bottom line, I personally debunk the theory that loud music, headphones, and listening devices cause hearing loss, because I have done this, and my hearing is perfect.
Score: 0
|Wha?? I can't hear ya, sonny?!
Hearing damage is terrible. I have damage. I'm very careful, but working as a music instructor has inflicted a little tinitis. But ask anyone if they want the volume level on their ipod regulated downward. I don't think so.
We live in a loud society. Sucks. But articles like this would be better focused on promoting noise cancelling headphones so that the volume can be fewer dB's. They should promote the requirement of free foam earplugs at every stadium rock concert. Kids should be able to grab foamies when they walk in, or have them handed to them when they go through the turnstile.
Let's talk about practical, educational opportunities instead of "ipods are dangerous".
Score: 0
|"To prevent hearing loss, Albertus recommends practicing "hearing conservation." This means wearing earplugs or noise-reducing earmuffs in situations were persistent loud noise is an issue"
Simple solution then: with the earplugs in you won't even be able to insert Apple's damaging headphones. There's always a common-sense solution if you look hard enough for it.
Score: 0
|crap! any headphone does the same! not only ipod ones! stop blaming one product
Score: 0
|One VERY popular product.
Score: 0
|Oh great...here come the rounds of endless frivolous lawsuits where parents will sue Apple because the parent's failed to be more stringent with their children. Remember when:
1) Parent's used to tell their children to not sit so close to the TV otherwise they'd go blind...and the children listened (or else...)
2) Parent's told their kids to finish ALL of their dinner even if they didn't like it...and the children listened (or else...)
3) Parent's actually were active in their children's lives and schoolwork.
4) Parent's actually were active in their children's CHOICE IN MUSIC/MOVIES/ETC???
5) Parent's forced kids to let them meet their friends before they would let them go out with them?
Wow...and I was born in '79...
Score: 0
|This is like an annaul report of "headphones played too loud are bad for your hearing"
Nothing to see here ... move along
Score: 0
|Apple does not provide in-ear headphones with the iPod as standard.
Score: 0
|That's probably why the article says "The problem lies in the in-ear headphones Apple offers for the device".
Score: 0
|Whatever, there is too much ambiguity in this phrase and the first part of the article.
First the headline should be "iPod's optional in-ear headphones may cause hearing loss" to be truthful, but anyway the whole article should be about damage to hearing by headphones in general, or at least in-ear headphones in general.
"The popular iPod may be doing more harm than good, especially to the hearing of the user, doctors say."
Sorry but this is FUD, it's so obvious, even to some iPod-haters (as seen in the comments). The iPod should be given as an example of popular audio devices, not as a prime suspect.
Anyone thinking this article is fair is either:
1. Uninformed or Ignorant.
or...
2. Think it's ok to lie to attack the iPod.
Score: 0
|