Noise-induced hearing loss is a growing problem for young people. Experts say much of that loss can be prevented by turning down the personal music players.
By KRISTIN HOLTZ
Staff Writer
Charles Readig can often be found with a textbook in hand and his favorite music playing in his ears. For him, it’s a good way to focus on his homework.
“It kind of blocks me out from everything else,” Readig, 18, explained while listening to Muse in the commons area of Ridgewater College last month.
Readig, who estimates he listens to his iPod three to four hours a day, is like many young people whose ear buds have seemingly become another body appendage.
However, many never stop to think what that hard rock might be doing to their hearing.
Noise exposure and aging are the two primary causes of hearing loss, according to Ed Van Der Heiden, an audiologist working with children birth to 21 through the Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative in Marshall.
And noise-induced hearing loss — that created by exposure to sudden, loud noises or exposure to loud noises for a period of time — is a growing problem for young people.
A new study from the European Union estimates that up to 10 percent of MP3 users could start losing their hearing within five years.
The report, which was released in October, indicated young people who listen to their personal music player for more than one hour a day at high volumes risk permanent hearing loss.
Prolonged exposure to sounds louder than 85 decibels can cause gradual hearing loss. The reason ear buds are so dangerous is the close proximity of high noise to the ear drum, Van Der Heiden explained.
While most people report using iPods at 95 to 105 decibels, the miniature music devices can hit volume levels of more than 120 decibels, the equivalent of a chain saw or jack hammer.
In Europe, a safety standard restricts MP3 players to volumes of only 100 decibels.
Many young people, however, never consider they’re subjecting themselves to such dangerous volumes, since music tends to be a soothing sound, not irritable like a chain saw, Van Der Heiden noted.
“Noise is noise whether it’s pleasant or unpleasant,” Van Der Heiden said. “The longer you’re exposed to it and as long as it’s in that dangerous area, you can develop hearing loss.”
Beatriz Garcia, 23, of Norwood, Minn., typically listens to her MP3 player five hours a day when doing homework or bored. Though she listens to the player at mid-level, she said hearing loss isn’t one of her top priorities.
“No, I don’t even think about it when I have it on,” Garcia said.
Steady, long-term exposure even at moderate volume levels can have a lasting impact on hearing, Van Der Heiden said.
Consistent, moderately loud sounds wear out hair cells in the cochlea, or inner ear, often evidenced by a ringing in the ear. If a person removes himself or herself from the noise, often the hair cells recover and the person experiences only a temporary condition.
However, if the person is continually subjected to repeated exposure, such as through ear buds, the hair cells can die out and lead to a more permanent hearing loss condition.
“It kind of sneaks up on you and it takes a long time to develop,” Van Der Heiden said. “Once a person develops ringing in the ear, it’s too late to regain most hearing.”
MP3 players popularity
The sale of personal music player, like MP3s and iPods, has skyrocketed during the past five years. Portable music player sales grew from $1.29 million in 2004 to $5.97 million in 2007, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. A projected 41,165 units are expected to be sold in 2009.
Today, more than 88 million players are in use with 44 percent of households owning at least one MP3 player, reported the association.
Audiologists don’t condemn personal music players and ear buds; however, they do recommend young people take steps toward protecting themselves from hearing loss.
Van Der Heiden recommends using ear buds a maximum of one hour per day. Some researchers also promote the 60/60 rule, recommending the volume should be no higher than 60 percent the maximum for 60 minutes a day.
“The key is to make sure the noise level you’re enjoying is relatively safe,” Van Der Heiden said.
But as long as MP3 players are the trend item to have, Amy Drahos, 18, of Hutchinson expects young people to keep listening to them and listening loud.
“If I think it’s maybe too loud, I usually ask someone around me if they can hear it,” Garcia said. “If they can, it’s probably too loud. Otherwise, it’s probably OK.”
When is it too loud?
<< A good rule of thumb is if you cannot hear a normal conversation (60 decibels) and must shout to hear, the volume is too loud. Charles Readig said sometimes it takes his ears awhile to adjust to normal sounds or they ring after listening to his music at loud volumes. Both are signs the noise is too loud, audiologist Ed Van Der Heiden said.
<< The Listen To Your Buds! campaign is a partnership between the American Speech-Language Association and the Consumer Electronics Association to inform people about the potential risk of hearing loss from personal music players. The campaign is aimed at children, parents and educators to promote three rules of thumb: lower the volume, limit listening time, and upgrade your headphones.
<< Some MP3 players offer a safety feature in which a user can set a volume limit. Listeners can set the maximum volume limit, for example at 50 percent, so that even when they crank their music up to the highest level it will never go past 50 percent of its decibels.
Advice from audiologists
<< Keep the volume down
<< Limit the listening time
<< Try custom molded ear sleeves
<< Consider upgrading ear buds to sound-isolating earphones