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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