Hearing loss is more common than ever before.
About 16% of American adults have impaired ability to hear speech, and more than 30% of Americans over age 20 -- an estimated 55 million people -- have lost some high-frequency hearing, according to a new study published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The finding has got experts -- and concerned parents -- wondering anew: does listening to loud music through headphones lead to long-term hearing loss? Brian Fligor, director of diagnostic audiology at Children's Hospital Boston, explains how much damage your headphone habit might cause -- and how to mitigate your risk.
Q:: How much hearing loss does an iPod cause?
A: It depends on the person, it depends on how long you're listening and it depends on the level at which you're setting your iPod.
If you're using the earbuds that come with an iPod, and you turn the volume up to about 90% of the maximum, and you listen a total of two hours a day, five days a week, our best estimates are that the people who have more sensitive ears will develop a rather significant degree of hearing loss -- on the order of 40 decibels (dB). That means the quietest sounds audible are 40 dB loud. Now, this is high-pitched hearing loss, so a person can still hear sound and understand most speech. The impact is going to be most clearly noted when the background noise level goes up, when you have to focus on what someone is saying. Then it can really start to impair your ability to communicate.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
