| The good news is that iPODs are a great | | | | decibels for instance) or exposure to |
| product, they're cool, and they bring a | | | | less intense noise over a period of time |
| lot of joy. People can be pretty fanatic | | | | (85 decibels for more than an hour). |
| about their iPOD. They say it opens up a | | | | A couple of additional features of our |
| whole new world of sound to them. It's | | | | glorious iPOD create concerns for those |
| not just kids either. I have friends in | | | | involved in caring for our hearing. One |
| their 40's and 50's who can't part with | | | | is the earbud style headphones which |
| it and have unabashedly declared their | | | | move the source of sound closer to the |
| addiction to their iPOD. I even have one | | | | structures which allow us to hear. These |
| older friend who swears he can suddenly | | | | earbuds actually increase the sound by |
| hear better out of his impaired left ear | | | | 6-9 decibels over the traditional |
| when wearing his iPOD with earbuds. | | | | over-the-ear headphones. Thus, they give |
| Now we all know the bad news too. | | | | us louder listening and greater risk of |
| Experts are warning us that using MP3 | | | | damage. In addition, the fact that the |
| Players in general, and iPODs in | | | | iPOD can hold and play thousands of |
| particular, can potentially cause | | | | songs and hours of music ensures that we |
| significant hearing loss over time. | | | | are listening for prolonged periods of |
| Noise induced hearing loss is not | | | | time. So, you guessed it, even if we |
| isolated to music of course. Sudden loud | | | | turn the volume down a bit, we can still |
| noise such as a gun firing or an | | | | have damage due to the prolonged |
| explosion at close range can wreak havoc | | | | listening. |
| on the auditory system. In this | | | | So, are you ready to give up your iPOD? |
| situation, the exposure to noise is | | | | No, I didn't think so. Most of us have |
| brief but the ear does not have time to | | | | figured out that just about everything |
| sense the sudden trauma and protect | | | | potentially causes damage to our fragile |
| itself; thus damage occurs. This is | | | | bodies and the goal is to act |
| evident when ringing in the ears is | | | | responsibly while still enjoying |
| present after the event. | | | | ourselves. So here are just a few common |
| Another common noise induced hearing | | | | sense things to help you listen |
| loss is the result of exposure to | | | | responsibly: |
| significant noise levels over an | | | | • Dial the volume down to 6 or lower |
| extended period of time. The loudness | | | | • Use over-the-ear headphones versus |
| that creates the damage may not seem | | | | earbuds |
| excessive to some people; perhaps the | | | | • Limit listening to no more than 1 |
| sound of a loud truck, a vacuum cleaner, | | | | hour at a time (less if listening level |
| or machines in a factory. When exposed | | | | is at a 110 dB or higher) |
| to these sounds the ear will to some | | | | • Listen to your iPOD via an external |
| extent attempt to protect itself, but | | | | device without earphones when possible |
| over a prolonged period of time, it | | | | (at home with an iHome device) |
| fatigues and damage occurs. The damage | | | | • Avoid using your iPOD to drown out |
| occurs gradually and is generally not | | | | other loud noises |
| noticeable until it is too late. So, | | | | Apple blessed us with these wonderful |
| basically hearing loss can result from | | | | little devices, but don't lose your |
| exposure to loud sounds (sounds over 120 | | | | hearing for the love of iPOD. |