« High-tech aids bring movies to wider audience | Main | How's your hearing? »
December 30, 2005
Earbuds use could contribute to hearing loss
New findings suggest that when it comes to listening to music on popular devices like the iPod, some users may be getting to much of a good thing. The chairman of communication science and disorders at Northwestern University says the earbuds, used most often with devices like the iPod, can contribute to hearing loss.
Dr. Dean Garstecki says earbuds are more dangerous than earmuff-style listening devices because they're worn further down the ear canal. He also says people tend to crank up the volume more when they're using earbuds because the devices don't drown out surrounding noises as well as earmuffs.
Dr. Jeffrey Kim, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Georgetown University Hospital, agrees. He says he has relatively young patients who've suffered hearing loss that seems to linked to earbuds use.
He suggests that people switch out the earbuds on their iPods with an old-fashioned earmuff type of hearing device.
By The Associated Press
Posted by 4HL on December 30, 2005 1:08 PM
Send this article to a friend