Playing by Ear

Article by healthybalance.com staff
Posted on October 29, 2008

Music can be dangerous to your health… listening to it on headphones or ear buds, that is. A scientific study done for the European Union, found that people listening to music played on MP3 players and other similar personal music players five hours a week on high volume settings can damage their hearing. Their hearing loss may not manifest the degree of damage done until years later
The report noted that the high-volume range of headphones and ear buds recreates noise at levels higher than permitted in noisy factories and workplaces–noise levels as high as an airplane taking off nearby.

Here in the U.S., a lawsuit has already been filed for such a hearing loss, specifically blamed on an Apple iPod. While 89 decibels is considered the safe upper noise level, iPods can generate 115 decibels of sound into the users’ ears. While Apple warns users of the potential danger to hearing in its manual, many consumers—especially teenagers—don’t take the time to read this fine print. As a result, the music lover of today may find they are unable to appreciate music when they’re older—because they won’t be able to hear it.

“Some authors (of the study) stress that if young people continue to listen to music for long periods of time and at high volume levels during several years, they run the risk of developing hearing loss by the time they reach their mid-twenties,” the report said. “Among young people, there are many reports of temporary or persistent tinnitus induced by loud music.”

According to chairman of communication science and disorders at Northwestern University, Dr. Dean Garstecki, ear buds, worn further down the ear canal, cause more damage than earmuff-style headphones. He notes, “People tend to crank up the volume more when they’re using ear buds because the devices don’t drown out surrounding noises as well as earmuffs.”

Georgetown University Hospital ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Kim, says that he has seen young patients with hearing loss most likely caused by ear buds. A good alternative—throw out the ear buds in favor of headphones or, for kids, an iDog speaker unit.

While the European report acknowledged that personal music players do have their benefits, for example making boring tasks a little easier to endure, it also listed another danger: distraction “Music can distract the listeners and isolate them from their environment which can be very dangerous when driving or walking on busy roads.”