VANCOUVER -- IPODS and other long-playing music devices have certainly changed the way we listen to music. But they could also be setting us up for noise-induced hearing loss. Guitarist, Pete Townsend from the WHO, is so concerned, he's warned IPOD users to turn it down, because years of using studio headphones, himself, has left him with increasing deafness.
UBC student Derek Chiu comments that the volume on his IPOD looks high, but he doesn't think it is. Derek admits he listens to his IPOD for at least 9-10 hours a day.
John says that over the past five years, he listens to his music at full volume. He says he'll deal with the hearing loss if it happens.
Audiologist Carol Lau says, "the new style of earbuds that fit straight into the ear. They are particularly dangerous because they're trappong sound in a small space, like an open air concert wouldn't be as dangerous as having those earbuds in your ears for a long time."
Carol recommends people using earbuds should listen to their IPODs or MP3 players at 60 percent of the volume for no longer than one hour a day. Otherwise, they could damage the tiny hair cells within the inner ear.
Carol says, "the nerves from high frequencies tend to lie closer to the outside, so that when the vibration of that loud sound comes in, it's the high frequency nerves that tends to get damaged."
That's just what happened to Guy Williamson. Years of working as a sound engineer with rock n'roll bands like ZZ Top and Bon Jovi have taken its toll on his hearing.
Williamson says, "it's just when the sounds within the words that certain frequencies in there that seems to drop out and doesn't seem to be there. It is frustrating when I can't hear what's going on."
Now he's using a hearing aid to listen clearly to conversations. He says ince your hearing is gone, it's gone. Hearinf aids can help, but it's never going to be the same."
If you want to listen longer, you can try fitting these custom made ear buds to your earphones Or just reduce the time you spend listening to your music player.
There's also noise cancellation headsets, which you can use. If you're wondering, custom earbuds can run at about $120 dollars a pair. That's a small price for saving your hearing. Good quality hearing aids, by the way, run at about 6-7-thousand dollars a pair. With the price of extended music players coming down, there's no doubt more people will be listening to them.. so audiologists just may see more younger people coming in for hearing aids.
Monday February 13, 2006
