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Presented by: ACC ~
The Audiology Awareness Campaign

Listening to loud music non-stop has never been easier with the advent of iPods and other MP3 devices. High fidelity music is enjoyable and can be beneficial. To preserve the full enjoyment of listening to music and conversation, preventing hearing loss from occurring from these electronic devices is essential.

IPods and other MP3 devices make it extremely easy to listen continuously to hours of dangerous noise doses that can damage hearing permanently. Listening to an MP3 device full-blast five minutes a day can result in a permanent hearing loss for some persons. Many MP3 devices deliver sound in excess of 120 decibels (a unit of measure for sound intensity) that can permanently damage hearing, cause annoying tinnitus (ringing in the ears), make ears sensitive to listening to loud sounds, and make listening to conversations seem muffled after exposure to these extremely loud blasts for only a few minutes.

Loud noise and music can cause hearing loss by damaging the sensitive hair cells in the cochlea, a part of the inner ear that helps transmit sound information to the brain. The risk for permanent hearing loss is determined by two factors--high volume levels and duration of sound exposure. Thus, increasing continuous listening time to an MP3 device, even listening at seemingly reasonable levels increases the risk for permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss may occur gradually from exposure to loud sounds and is often not noticed until the loss is quite extensive.

Prevention is the key to avoiding hearing loss. What can be done to prevent hearing loss with iPods and other MP3 devices?

1. Decrease the volume of your iPod to 60 decibels (db), about two-thirds of the maximum volume.
2. Limit listening time to 60 minutes a day. Decreasing the duration of exposure to loud sounds helps prevent or decrease the extent of a permanent hearing loss.
3. Take a break from listening continuously to your MP3 or iPod.
4. Replace the inexpensive ear buds inserts with sound-isolating ear buds or noise-canceling headphones. Listeners tend to decrease the volume with sound-isolating ear buds or noise-canceling headphones.
5. Take advantage of the free download Apple offers for most iPod models. The download contains a setting to limit the volume.
6. Maintain a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetable have been shown to help protect the inner ear from damaging loud sounds.
7. Visit an audiologist for a hearing evaluation if you have "ringing or buzzing in the ears" (tinnitus), hearing seems muffled, hearing is becoming super-sensitive to loud sounds, or difficulty understanding conversations occurs after listening to your iPod or MP3 device.