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Ear Buds Cause Hearing Loss?

Techtree News Staff, Dec 19, 2005 1900 hrs IST

An audiologist says that ear buds associated with modern devices like iPods, MP3 players, etc, can cause loss of hearing.

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For the "hip and happening" set - it might be "cool" to listen to music on an iPod or MP3 player, with ear buds plugged directly into the ears But Dean Garstecki, a Northwestern University audiologist, warns that these ear buds might increase the risk of hearing loss.

Garstecki says that ear buds associated with modern devices the likes of iPods, MP3 players, etc, boost sound signals by as much as 6 to 9 decibels, and are likely to result in loss of hearing.

According to Garstecki, an increasing number of young people are now experiencing the kind of hearing loss found in aging adults, which can be traced back to their music habits.

Students are found to listen to music at nearly 110 to 120 decibels, capable of causing hearing loss after just about an hour of listening; with ear buds placed directly in the ears, adding to the damage caused.

As solution to the problem, Garstecki recommends use of muff-type ear phones associated with older devices, as against the ear buds preferred by music fans today. He also suggests lowering of volume levels while listening to music. Another option is to use noise-cancelling headphones, which eliminate background noise unlike ear buds.

But Garstecki says that these headphones by virtue of their higher cost and larger size, may not go down very well with fashion-conscious youngsters.

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Discussion Board

Isuk Cox

,bumfuckistan, on Jul 10, 2009 08:07 PM

"For the "hip and happening" set - it might be "cool" to listen to music on an iPod or MP3 player, with ear buds plugged directly into the ears" What are you 70?? You write like a disgruntled senior citizen trying to get a good jab at the young people.

sangar

,shillong, on Jul 16, 2007 05:46 PM

Price ???

Ac?Me

,Chennai, on Dec 21, 2005 06:43 PM

Option No.1: Noise Cancellation Headphones Option No.2: Listen at low volumes Option No.3: Don't listen at all True Audiopliles know how much their audio distorts at high volumes. To get a sample of how loud your iPod earphones are, lay them on your table, play at full volume, now you know what damage to hearing means. What to say of 'Made in China' goods and other cheap substitutes. One more thing, discos, bombs and loud concerts do not damage your hearing with sudden loud sounds as much as prolonged, but comparatively (ahem, this SHOULD BE TRUE), lower, but yet loud sounds on your earphone, ask the lead singer of The Who, who despite having the record for the loudest concert, I don't think these are the exact figures, but 620 dB at the point of performance, and 120dB 50 feet away, that didn't damage his hearing but continual recording at high volumes in the studio did.

Alan

,Boulder, on Dec 21, 2005 12:58 PM

Cell phone earbuds are bad news too, but at least the radiation is lower to ones brain. Back to nature is best.

jack eb

,las vegas, on Dec 20, 2005 11:10 PM

Constantly listening to music is the drug of an apathetic and ignorant generation of teenagers. MP3 players are the sedative of young minds, and TV is the blender. When the nano came out, I was literally seduced by its size and abilities. I've always wanted an ipod, and here was the greatest one yet. I was so close to buying one for weeks, but then I thought about it. If I am constantly listening to music, when do I have time to think? It seems like everyone my age is in a constant state of distracting themselves with tv and music. FFS, turn it off. While I might enjoy always having my music available to me anytime, anywhere, I realized I'd be doing myself a disservice by distracting myself from not only what I should be paying attention to on the streets but distracting myself from my own thoughts.

Anonymous

,Baton Rouge, on Dec 20, 2005 09:07 PM

oh, The apple in-ear buds also put blisters on the insides of my ears from rubbing up against them too much.

Anonymous

,Baton Rouge, on Dec 20, 2005 09:06 PM

I hear people saying 'All you need to do is cancel the outside noise'. This is fine and all if you're at your home but if you're on a subway or bus and need to hear the next stop, or if you're walking down the street and some car that's about to hit you is honking at you to move, you won't hear it. Just be careful where you are. I've almost gotten hit a few times because I didnt hear cars coming up behind me when I had my headphones on.

good mishack ng

,killarneey, on Dec 20, 2005 05:57 PM

people should just stop using ear phone.

Anonymous

,, on Dec 20, 2005 10:31 AM

kiranmai pappul

,sangareddy, on Dec 20, 2005 10:29 AM

nice article. it would be helpful for all.

sam

,Plano, on Dec 20, 2005 09:59 AM

Hello, I currently own an Ipod and use the er6i sound isolating headphones. I do not understand the use of "bulk" to describe sound isolating headphones. These are the ipod bud style headphones. My max volume ever is 50%, and thats around prolounged hearing. However, when I use a bigger headphone during exercise, I need to crank my ipod to 75% volume to experience the same sound. So, if you need a fashion consious earbud, go for the er6i. On amazon it is $80, not bad.

Anand Tulpule

,Thane,Mumbai, on Dec 20, 2005 09:47 AM

It is really a good article.However it is wise to keep your views with you.Plese do not ever mention in public. My personal experience of giving advice substantiated with tech information did not help.They called me OLD FOOL teching in the modern world how to live merrily!

Kristen

,Lima, on Dec 20, 2005 06:03 AM

hEY GUYS I have a MPIO 350. what level do you recommend me? 6 level from Ipod is the same as 6 from Mpio? thanks

speedofheat

,Mumbai, on Dec 20, 2005 09:39 AM

The listening volume level should ideally be not more than 75% of the total volume level of your device

Figen

,paksville, on Dec 20, 2005 02:34 AM

hi

Darren

,French Lake, on Dec 20, 2005 03:56 AM

Go ask an old guy about hearing loss. Talk to your grandfather and ask him if he wishes he had ear protection when he was driving around on a tractor before the advent of hearing protection he'll likely say "eh? Whats that sonny" because he can't hear you. My father and father-in law both have tinnitus( ringing in there ears) from excessive noise. Go catch a mosquito and put it in your ear canal and then try to sleep at night. Now imagine if the ringing never stops. Do yourself a favor turn the music down before you have permanent hearing loss or tinnitus. Old people can be a great resource go talk to them and listen while you still can.

Erik Matthews

,Sudbury, on Dec 20, 2005 12:24 AM

I realize that listening to music with ear ubds can be harmfull but stillthere are places where its just as loud. i.e. clubs, concerts even a person with a stereo can hurt there own ears. also the loud noise from big machines and trains and even static from radios can hurt aswell. there is too many things to be aware of so it's just too much work to do everything your supposed to do. if you did we would all be sitting in a corner with nothing to do.

strickdd

,Cincinnati, on Dec 19, 2005 08:36 PM

With both earbuds and headphones, the purpose of turning up the volume is usually to cover up ambient noise. Since earbuds, by design, block out much of the ambience and they are closer to the earbud, they don't need to be turned up as loud. Headphones must be turned up more because of the distance and the fact that more background noise can get through. All these factors may even out in the end, but I would venture to say that the headphones typically are listened to at a higher volume due to their desing and therefore are more likely, or just as likely, to cause hearing loss.

torinostu

,Raleigh, on Dec 19, 2005 10:50 PM

My experience has shown that earbuds, with the exception of the very expensive, canal molding type, do not insulate very well against ambient noise. The volume of the music blocks that out. But a good set of headphone, like ones used by studio musicians that are fairly inexpensive, are insulted by their very nature. They close off the entire ear and protect sound waves from touching any part of your ear. These are similar to ear protection used in work places where noise is a danger. Protecting the entire ear helps insulate the sound. I also find with headphones the music is clearer, more distinct and easily enjoyed at a decent level. Of course, I wouldn't want to walk around the subway with them on my head because they can be a little heavy as well. Again, this is just my own experience. Having been in a rock band an already having a ring in my ear, I may not be the best judge of these things.

Tom

,Baltimore MD, on Dec 19, 2005 10:50 PM

Headphones of any kind are deceiving. I think if people turned up their home stereo to the same level, they would realize jut how loud they are.

Ben

,LA, on Dec 19, 2005 09:52 PM

Use in ear bud such as the Future Sonic FS1s the block out a lot of ambient noise

Michael

,North Liberty, on Dec 19, 2005 09:32 PM

If you simply turn down the volume, you can avoid a lot of issues. 1) you won't hurt your ears 2) you won't be subjected to "ugly" headphones

Zoot

,Toronto, on Dec 19, 2005 09:38 PM

It's hard to turn down the volume if you are in a noisy environment, like on a subway, a bus, or airplane. The key is to seal off the outside noise, so that you can turn down the volume of music without trying to cover up the outside noise with louder music.

Zoot

,Toronto, on Dec 19, 2005 09:35 PM

Most cheap earbuds experience a lot of sound leakage, both from the music leaking out, and external sounds leaking in. Muff-type headphones come in two styles - open and closed. The best are the oversized closed type that seal off the entire ear, thereby sealing off ambient noise. For earbuds, try to get either the Sony or Apple buds that you insert into the ear canal. They have a rubber seal that completely seals off the ear canal from outside noise. Alternatively, you can buy an accessory such as from www.slicsound.com that you can add to any common earbud. Just remember to take them out when you are crossing the street, as you may not be able to hear traffic properly.

Richard and Joy

,Burnaby BC, on Dec 19, 2005 09:33 PM

Some useful info for you

Dean Katsiris

,Saskatoon, on Dec 19, 2005 08:02 PM

That's why earbuds that block noise rather than cancelling it are better - see: http://www.etymotic.com. They're as fashionable, small, and allow you to listen to the music quieter (and generally deliver better bass response). Unfortunately, they're expensive, but it's worth a mention.

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