It is a common sight on campus, white headphones hanging from pockets, inevitably attached to an iPod inside. Even more familiar is the cell phone.

New studies, however, have shown that the continual exposure to noise by way of headphones and cell phones can contribute to early hearing loss.

According to a survey done by Australia's National Acoustic Laboratories, 25 percent of people who use portable music players had high enough daily exposure rates to incur hearing loss.

It's something Aldridge, a senior in chemical and biomolecular engineering, has noticed.

"Sometimes, just randomly throughout the day, I can hear ringing in my ears, but I can't give up my music, even if that does mean going deaf," a giggling Aldridge said.

According to a CNN report, hearing specialists note that one tell-tale sign damage has been done to ears is hearing a ringing, buzzing or whooshing-type sound.

One way to possibly recover, doctors say, is to let ears "rest."

More recently, doctors are seeing young people with old ears. The frequency levels where young people should normally hear have been tainted by the enjoyment of loud noise.

Hearing loss attributed to noise is not limited to cell phones and headphones.

Although, overexposure to noisy concerts and clubs can also aid in early hearing loss, junior in sociology Xavier King said it hasn't bothered him.

"I have been going to clubs and parties on the weekends since coming to college, where they play loud music, and I really haven't noticed any difference in my hearing," King said.

Not noticing a difference in hearing early on is the complicated part about hearing loss.

It is not until later, possibly years later, after repeated exposures that one may actually find out about the damage.

Since the mass production of iPods a few years ago and their use among college students, headphones are not just being worn to listen to music while working out or on lunch breaks, but constantly throughout the day.

D.J. Hardy, a junior in communications, is all too familiar with the consequences of exposure to loud noises.

"I was diagnosed 10 percent deaf in my left year about a year ago. Before then I often played really loud music and listened to my mp3 [player] all day," said Hardy. "This may have contributed to my hearing loss."

Jenell Jackson