It seems the earbuds used for the devices can lead to hearing loss if they are used too often and too loudly.

Dean Garstecki, chairman of America’s Northwestern Communication Sciences and Disorders Department says audiologists had been warning of hearing loss problems since the 1980s when headphones were first used for walkmans and compact disc players.

But he said the problem was much worse with MP3 and iPod earbuds because longer battery life and greater music storage capacity meant people were listening to louder music for longer.

Add this to the high intensity of the newest player earbuds – which can boost the audio signal by nine decibels – and loose fitting earbuds which allow background noise to filter in, leading to listeners further pumping up the volume, and it’s a recipe for hearing loss.
The claims appear to come as a surprise for MP3 and iPod fans on the Coast.

"My parents are always telling me to turn down the volume on my MP3 because they are worried about my hearing,” admitted 17-year-old Vanessa Bowes, from Nambour.

"I used to like to listen to the music loudly but now it’s quieter, though I do still listen for more than half an hour a day.

"Often it’s a couple of hours a day. The time I use it each day depends on what else I have to do."

Jess Bunting, 18, said she didn’t like “music booming in my ears”, so she listens to it at about half the maximum volume.

"I am not concerned about hearing loss," said the Alice Springs visitor.

"I have thought about getting the big earphones but when I got the MP3 player it came with the (earbuds) and so that’s what I use, and the big earphones are pretty expensive."

Buderim’s Jenna Drummond, 16, said she liked to listen to loud music on her MP3 but was not worried about possible hearing loss.

"I don’t listen to it as much as other people do," she said, revealing that about an hour each day was her limit.

Tamzin John from Pacific Paradise thought two hours of MP3 listening each day was acceptable.

"I have the music pretty loud when I can," she said.

"I am not worried about possible hearing loss."

But there is a solution.

Mr Garstecki recommends use of the earbuds for no more than 30 minutes a day with only 60% of maximum volume.

Larger ear-muff styled headphones and more snug-fitting earbuds would also help to reduce the problem, he said.

By Angie Kip and AAP
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3667652