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