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19 Dec 2005
Earbuds used with the iPod and other music players can increase the risk of hearing loss, according to a US audiologist.
Dean Garstecki, of Northwestern University, said that an increasing number of young people were now experiencing the kind of hearing loss found in aging adults.
Low cost earbuds were more likely to increase the risk of loss in hearing than muff-type earphones, according to Garstecki.
The research found that MP3 users often listen to music at 110 to 120 decibels which can cause hearing loss after about an hour of listening. Because earbuds are placed directly into the ear, they cause damage by boosting the sound signal by as much as six to nine decibels.
Garstecki advised lowering the volume levels while listening to music. "If music listeners are willing to turn the volume down further still and use different headphones, they can increase the amount of time that they can safely listen," he said.
Noise-cancelling headphones are better because they reduce or eliminate background noise. But such headphones are often less popular because they are more costly and more visible than the tiny earbuds.
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Do you agree?
Just duh.
High volume, in whatever capacity, is going to damage hearing over time. The article is good. Some of the comments are good. Some are nitpickers who don't seem to have read the article. Skull Candy makes very nice inexpensive earbuds that do a nice job of reducing outside noise, thus one can listen to things they want at a volume that won't turn a brain into tapioca and still have background noise virtually eliminated. It's in the use and abuse, not the material played.
Posted by: Sanityhammer 27 Mar 2009
110dB is 110dB
What about a recording of a jet-engine? If it's hitting the ear drum at 110dB there's no difference - however big or small the device is.
Posted by: Pete 11 Nov 2007
Asinine
110 dB for both a Jet engine and a speaker? Yup, at a given frequency. However, integrating over the full frequency spectrum, the power contained in the Jet engine signal is orders of magnitude greater than that in the Ipod output. The idea that kids these days are parking jet engines in their ears and thus are hedonists who somehow deserve deafness might sooth the churlish heart, but it ain't true. sorry.
Posted by: AB 12 Jan 2006
Nice article
Its a nice article.
Posted by: Manoj 20 Dec 2005
Same goes for IEM useing bands
In ear monitors are also getting blamed for some hearing loss for bands. The problem is if you use only one IEM rather 2 (one in each ear), Then sound levels are extremely diffrent, so one ear will hear lets say 30db (IEM) and the other at 90+db...To compensate and hear the mix better the musician will have the iem volume turned up. Useing 2 will lower this as IEMs are basically earplugs with mini drivers in them. Anything that gets that close tou your ear should be atenuated to lower volume levels and keep them under 90db for safe hearing. Kids also have the undeniable problem of thinking that sound levels need to be blasted to sound good. Too many poorly mixed rock concerts :)
Posted by: http://rex-pro.com 20 Dec 2005
Earbuds the cause of hearing loss? Try carelessness.
Gimme a break . . . earbuds or headphones, these kids just need to learn to turn their iPods down. Parents should be educating their children that this hedonistic thinking of, "Oh, I can just listen to my emo rock music as loud as I want," is seriously unhealthy (not that emo rock music is beneficial in the first place). If kids don't want to be going, "Eh!? What was that again!?" by the age of 34, they should turn the volume down on their music. Just to give you people the scope of this, 110-120 decibels is the equivalent of standing about 10 feet away from a roaring jet engine. You'd be surprised how fast our youth are losing their hearing, simply because they're too careless about their music-listening habits.
Posted by: tedJohnston 20 Dec 2005
Comeon
You listen at the same input volume no matter what type or earphones you are using, we are just a generation that loses our music.
Posted by: name 20 Dec 2005
This is new information?
My parents always told me listening to loud music would lead to hearing loss. Is this news? I suppose this guy got a federal grant to perform this study.
Posted by: Jim 20 Dec 2005
weak
so let me get this straight.. too much volume causes hearing loss? ok. earbuds in my opinion cut out background noise, in some cases significantly more than w/ expensive cancellation devices. so you don't *have* to turn the volume louder to compensate. and lower volume would mean less hearing loss. closeness to the ear is irrelevant if the sound coming out is more faint..
Posted by: enzo79 19 Dec 2005
ipod earbuds
girls are pretty
Posted by: jon doe 19 Dec 2005
iPod emphasized!!
I love that most of these "You'll lose your hearing!" stories mention only the iPod as the cause. Listening to any MP3 player, as well as loud devices(i.e. jackhammer, car stereo, etc...) may lead to hearing loss! Why single out the iPod? Seems to be more FUD
Posted by: JPO 19 Dec 2005
What about other headphones
I'm sure there are other headphones that can cause the same problem. Anytime a consumer listens to music at high levels is putting themselves at risk.
Posted by: Badboy1 19 Dec 2005