MP3 Players – A New Generation with Hearing Loss & Tinnitus
Baby boomers are experiencing in greater numbers the effects of loud rock music listened to over the years. I know this fact first hand. Having played in numerous “garage bands” in my youth and standing face to face with a wall of tie-dyed speakers at “Dead” concerts, I have bouts of hearing loss and tinnitus that seem to increase with age.
But the hearing damage being done to the generations of MP3 (think IPod) enthusiasts may prove much worse.
IPod users and the like are pumping music at dangerous decibel levels into the heart of the inner ear canal which over time can do long-term harm and desensitize their ears to further damage.
In Spring of 2007, Apple marked the 100 millionth IPod sold worldwide, making it the fastest-selling music player in history. As of June of 2006 as many as one in five Americans over the age of 12 now own portable MP3 Players and one in 20 own more than one, according to the global research firm Ipsos. Over half of American teens now own some form of an MP3 player and one third of 18 to 34 year-olds own one.
The dark side to this impressive business growth is the explosion of hearing-related maladies in the younger generation including hearing loss and tinnitus. Many people are listening to their ear buds at volumes high enough to create permanent hearing loss. While snug fitting ear buds provide great sound definition, they increase decibel penetration into the inner ear.
According to a study published last year in the Journal Ear and Hearing reported that on average, the smaller the ear bud, the deeper they fit in your ear canal, the higher their output levels are at any given volume control setting. For example, the white headphones sold with the iPod, will increase sound levels by up to 9 decibels. Although 9 decibels don’t sound like much, that is about the difference between an alarm clock and a lawn mower.
Brent Curtis – Editor
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Baby boomers are experiencing in greater numbers the effects of loud rock music listened to over the years. I know this fact first hand. Having played in numerous “garage bands” in my youth and standing face to face with a wall of tie-dyed speakers at “Dead” concerts, I have bouts of hearing loss and tinnitus that seem to increase with age.
But the hearing damage being done to the generations of MP3 (think IPod) enthusiasts may prove much worse.
IPod users and the like are pumping music at dangerous decibel levels into the heart of the inner ear canal which over time can do long-term harm and desensitize their ears to further damage.
In Spring of 2007, Apple marked the 100 millionth IPod sold worldwide, making it the fastest-selling music player in history. As of June of 2006 as many as one in five Americans over the age of 12 now own portable MP3 Players and one in 20 own more than one, according to the global research firm Ipsos. Over half of American teens now own some form of an MP3 player and one third of 18 to 34 year-olds own one.
The dark side to this impressive business growth is the explosion of hearing-related maladies in the younger generation including hearing loss and tinnitus. Many people are listening to their ear buds at volumes high enough to create permanent hearing loss. While snug fitting ear buds provide great sound definition, they increase decibel penetration into the inner ear.
According to a study published last year in the Journal Ear and Hearing reported that on average, the smaller the ear bud, the deeper they fit in your ear canal, the higher their output levels are at any given volume control setting. For example, the white headphones sold with the iPod, will increase sound levels by up to 9 decibels. Although 9 decibels don’t sound like much, that is about the difference between an alarm clock and a lawn mower.
Brent Curtis – Editor
Book Mark it-> del.icio.us | Reddit | Slashdot | Digg | Facebook | Technorati | Google | StumbleUpon | Window Live | Tailrank | Furl | Netscape | Yahoo | BlinkList
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 am
After 18 month active duty in Cambodia and Vietnam, my hearing is just about shot.50 caliber MGs,mortars, 40 mm Bofors and almost daily bombings and artillery fire.I now live in my own still world and the only noise I hear is a loud hissing like from a welding torch.I always ask people to repeat what they said, turn up the volume of the TV and stereo. I know I annoy everybody with it but what can I do!! Tinnitus is not curable but is there anything to get some relief from it? For any help I will be very grateful.
Felix Mueller
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Dear Felix,
You are correct that tinnitus is not curable. However, there are many therapies that can reduce the sound level. We recommend a 100 day trial of Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula. This works for most people. If it does not help you there are other therapies in the “Tinnitus Library” in the navigation bar above.
Barry Keate
April 7th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I’ve always been concerned with the sound decimals in music even back in my ‘disco duck’ days. What I’m am greatly concerned with is the Ted Nugent style ‘worship and praise’ sessions is mega churches. I have to plug my ears with the tissue just to get through it. There are little infants and young children forced to sit through all this well intentioned racket and I worry for their little ears sakes. Their young parents obviously have no sense at all. Nor do the pastors. God ain’t deaf people! Turn it down!
October 27th, 2008 at 9:44 am
This is great info to know.