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Hear This: Long, Loud IPod Use Risky

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@tampatrib.com

Published: February 14, 2009

You've heard of BlackBerry Thumb? Now there's iPod Ear.

With the increasing popularity of MP3 players and the loud, long listening habits of today's youth, millions of children and teens are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss, say doctors who are seeing young patients with hearing loss symptoms typical in middle age.

Sony's Walkman in the 1980s caused similar concerns, but the latest portable stereos hold thousands of songs and have longer-lasting batteries. Hearing damage is directly related to the duration of exposure and not just volume, so steady, long-term exposure to even moderately loud music could result in premature hearing loss.

Hearing specialists say the new cases may be only the beginning because accumulated noise damage can take years before it causes noticeable problems.

"The common denominator is the iPod or other similar device," says Dr. Robert Fifer, Audiology and Speech Pathology director at the University of Miami's Mailman Center for Child Development.

"They like to listen to it loud, usually so loud that mom can hear it across the room. The general rule of thumb I give them is that they should be able to hear the conversation around them. If not, it's too loud."

The research isn't conclusive, but other warning signs are there:

The number of Americans age 3 and older with some form of auditory disorder has more than doubled since 1971, from 13.2 million to about 30 million today, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Of those, one-third are said to have noise-induced hearing loss.

More than half of American high school students have at least one symptom of hearing loss, according to a 2006 poll by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

At peak volume, iPods hit close to 120 decibels, a level between a jackhammer and a jet engine. Experts say 85 decibels - the sound of city traffic - is safe. Most MP3 players vary between 60 to 110 decibels.

Another alarming trend: Toy manufacturers are marketing MP3 players to children as young as 3. The Bratz Liptunes and Disney Mix Stick produce sound well above 85 decibels, says an analysis by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, which says this is like "plugging virtual rock concerts" into toddlers' ears.

Noise-induced hearing loss makes it difficult to understand what is being said in restaurants and other places with background noise. It also becomes difficult to hear high-frequency, soft consonants, such as "s," "t," "f," "h" and the "sh" sound.

Views differ on acceptable levels and durations for listening. A 2006 University of Colorado at Boulder and Children's Hospital in Boston study found typical persons can safely listen to an iPod for 4.6 hours per day at 70 percent volume.

LISTENING TIPS

•Lower the volume: A good guide is half volume or no more than 60 percent of the maximum sound output.

•Limit listening time: Researchers suggest anywhere from 30 minutes to no more than 11/2 hours a day, but the louder the volume, the shorter your duration should be.

•Unplug: Take time out and give your ears a break.

•Upgrade your ear buds: Use "noise canceling" earphones (either the kind that fit outside the ear or those that fit snugly in the ear canal) because they can block out unwanted background sounds and lower the need to crank up the volume.

The Miami Herald

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