Protect your ears: limit iPod use

Discussion in 'Science, Technology & Car Chat' started by Fobstar, Jan 6, 2006.

  1. Fobstar

    Fobstar Guest

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    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The ever-popular earbuds used with many iPods and other MP3 players may be more stylish than the bigger and bulkier earmuff-type headphones, but they may also be more damaging to one's hearing, according to a Northwestern professor.

    "No one really knows for sure" the levels at which iPod users listen to music, but "what we do know is that young people like their music loud and seldom worry about any decline in hearing ability," Dean Garstecki, chairman of Northwestern's communication sciences and disorders department, told Reuters Health.

    The earbuds commonly used by iPod listeners are placed directly into the ear and can boost the audio signal by as many as nine decibels -- comparable to the difference in sound intensity between an alarm clock and a lawn mower, Garstecki said. Yet, the earbuds do not always fit snugly in the ear, but often allow background noise to seep in, which causes listeners to crank up the volume.

    In turning up the volume to drown out background noise, however, people "don't realize they may be causing some damage" to their hearing, Garstecki said.

    This danger is not confined to MP3 users, such as iPod owners. Earbuds are also used with compact disc players and Walkmans. Audiologists have cautioned about the potential risk of hearing loss associated with such devices since the 1980s. The longer battery life and the greater music storage capacity of MP3 players, in comparison to Walkmans and compact discs, however, encourage longer periods of uninterrupted music listening.

    "It's the combination of high intensity and long duration that creates the unique problem with the iPod," Garstecki said.

    Various researchers have reported an increased risk of hearing loss associated with headphone use in the general population. Despite this, an MTV survey conducted earlier this year revealed that most teens and young adults do not think hearing loss from loud music is a big problem, even though over half of those surveyed said they experienced ringing in their ears after concerts. When told that the loud music may lead to lifelong hearing loss, however, most of the survey participants said they would consider protective measures in the future.

    Eliminating iPod earbuds in favor of larger earmuff-style headphones as one of those protective measures may be an unattractive option for many style-conscious music lovers. Instead, Garstecki recommends adherence to the 60 percent/30 minute rule. Listeners should set their iPods and other MP3 players to sound levels that are no more than 60 percent of the maximum volume -- i.e. just over halfway between "off" and "maximum" volume -- and use their earbuds for no more than 30 minutes a day.

    Those who use muff-style headphones at 60 percent volume can increase the duration to an hour a day, and those who listen at volumes significantly lower than 60 percent of the maximum can use their music players for many more hours. Also, newer, more snug-fitting earbuds are "likely to be safer" if they prevent users from turning up the volume to eliminate background noise, Garstecki said.

    "It's when you start cranking it up that you have to limit the dosage," he explained.

    Noise-canceling headphones are another option for those who desire to listen to music for an extended period of time. These devices, while a bit more costly and more visible than earbuds, partially or fully eliminate background noise so that users do not have to crank up the volume of their music for that purpose.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051229/tc_nm/protect_ipod_dc
     
  2. 小小

    小小 (゚ー゚)(。_。)(゚ー゚)(。_。) afk

    haha

    heard about this, im pretty screwed listen 2 my mp3 on full blast
     
  3. Knoctur_nal

    Knoctur_nal |Force 10 from Navarone|

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    bs....some dumb ass prof...any mjsic player with headset volume high will mess ur ears...
     
  4. turbogor

    turbogor Well-Known Member

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    LOl agreed
    -clapclap listening to anything LOUD for long periods of time always = damage
     
  5. Knoctur_nal

    Knoctur_nal |Force 10 from Navarone|

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    yet we still do it....haaa..
     
  6. LostOne.TR

    LostOne.TR Member

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    pretty vague "solutions," 60% on the mp3 player using one set of headphones/earbuds vs another....could be a huge difference depending on the efficiency of the headphones/buds. but a good issue is brought up. in ear monitors tend to block out alot more noise, thereby needing less volume to hear the music without background noise.
     
  7. clui11

    clui11 Member

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    Ah there was an article in the papers a few days back saying the ipod can make u deaf. There was a picture and interview with this dude who writes and make music who's gone deaf cos of the headphones.
     
  8. Knoctur_nal

    Knoctur_nal |Force 10 from Navarone|

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    good for the bastard...turn the music down....
     
  9. skywalka

    skywalka Well-Known Member

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    herd about this before
    the bit about letting background noise sleep in actually true,
    without background noise (eg. late at night, everyones sleeping), i could listen to my lowest volume lvl, but at day time i cant.
     
  10. 小小

    小小 (゚ー゚)(。_。)(゚ー゚)(。_。) afk

    lol kinda harsh isnt it knoc ......... -rolleyes
     
  11. Fobstar

    Fobstar Guest

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    i always have mine real loud because i think music sounds better that way the same as cold drinks are better then warm
     
  12. ZzRicezZ

    ZzRicezZ Member

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    dam if the ipod earphone is bad.. how about the new one where it goes inside the ear.. pick up a few in HK and i'm not liking it much.. feels kinda weird..
     
  13. Knoctur_nal

    Knoctur_nal |Force 10 from Navarone|

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    some peeps like the ones that go into ur ear...
     
  14. ipepsi

    ipepsi Well-Known Member

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    i'm like deaf T.T
     
  15. Knoctur_nal

    Knoctur_nal |Force 10 from Navarone|

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    i like blasting my mp3s on a sony dj headset...max volume..
     
  16. cyta

    cyta Member

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    i dont like ipods i like mp3 players
    more asain haha?
     
  17. Knoctur_nal

    Knoctur_nal |Force 10 from Navarone|

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    and almost every asian person has a mp3 player..hahah
     
  18. lefthanded

    lefthanded Member

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    my ears are pretty bad now.
     
  19. brown eyes

    brown eyes Member

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    My sister recently checked my ear drums and they're officially messed up.

    I follow the 60/30 rule..

    Hearing is very important to me.
     
  20. Initial.D

    Initial.D Member

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    i have a mini. but i just use the fm transmitter with it lol

    i treat it kinda like a deck lol