The MP3 effect
iPods may cause hearing loss
By Lauren Searson, staff writer
Posted on September 25, 2006

Although MP3 players are said to be peoples personal soundtracks, their effects are not music to their ears.

Diane Schwalbach, an audiologist for Audiology Associates of Harrisonburg, said that at the rate some young people are using MP3 earplugs, they could suffer significant hearing loss by age 25, meaning their normal conversation flow will be interrupted.

She and her associate, Scott Murray, said the statistic used to be that one in three 30-year-olds had significant hearing problems, but it is becoming more of an issue with school-age children — 15 percent of which are showing hearing loss.

“Our ears are one of the most sensitive organs in the human body,” Murray said.

The ear consists of 30,000 to 50,000 hair cells that stimulate nerves in the brain. Typical activities, such as using MP3 earplugs, going to movies or driving with loud music can destroy these hair cells, which don’t regenerate. These factors affect different ranges of the cells, which cause people to lose their ability to understand particular parts of speech.

“The sad thing is, once it’s gone, it’s not coming back,” Schwalbach said. “It is the only type of hearing loss that is preventable.”

She said there have been several studies on the loudness level of MP3 players.

“People try to block out noises at loud levels,” she said, “But the more noise you’re in, the less time you can spend.”

Senior Katherine Daniels is a student who uses her IPod while walking to class as well as in the gym. 

“Sometimes I wish the volume was louder on my IPod, because the loud music helps me stay pumped during my workout,” she said. 

Everyday noises are measured on a loudness scale, which now have standards for time limits at these levels.  An MP3 player on average can be 118 to 125 decibels, which is just above noises such as construction drilling or a baby crying. 

The audiologists say that the time limit for 100 decibels is one hour. Half of the MP3 volume is 90 decibels, which only takes four hours before damage occurs.  Due to the large amount of music available on the Internet, they say people are listening to MP3s longer.

“I listen to my iPod to help kill the time, which adds up to about one to two hours every day,” Daniels said.

Concerts are also attributed to hearing loss. Murray said concerts can be as loud as 125 decibels. When people’s ears ring, it indicates that hair cells have been destroyed.

Hearing will return to normal the first time, but as concert attendance increases, it does not go back.

Murray said he recently treated a 21-year-old patient who had an amplifier in his car and claimed his girlfriend played loud music. 

“He had hearing loss equivalent to a World War II veteran,” Murray said.

Sitting through a two-hour movie can cause damage due to the loudness and “shock value” the theaters want the audience to experience.

“I did not know how sensitive the ears are,” Daniels said. “It’s pretty scary to think of the damage that can be done so early on.”

The audiologists said there are ways in which hearing loss can be prevented, besides the obvious lowering of volume. Custom earplugs create seals in people’s ears that block outside noises so the volume does not need to be increased. The volume can be set to half that of MP3s, and the bass response is better.

For concerts, there are musician earplugs with filters that allow people to enjoy the quality of music, but at a safe volume. They can even be used at a bar for having conversations. 

These plugs tend to sell for between $100 and $150, but the audiologists are offering a program where interested JMU students can receive a discount on them.

Using stereos instead of earplugs is also recommended. The audiologists say that while headphones are better than earplugs, keeping a greater proximity is the best option. 
They also strongly encourage people to get their hearing tested so they have a baseline measurement.

“We are trying to get information out there because people are living their lives in their 20s and aren’t thinking in terms of what will happen down the road,” Murray said. “You can have hearing aids, but it’s not like having your own ears.”