The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or ASHA, says it looked at nine popular tech items - six digital music players, one laptop, one pocket PC, and one hands-free cell phone device - and found that every single one is capable of producing sound well above the maximum safety level of 85 decibels.

“Some of them have output as high as 125 decibels, and at that intensity and loudness you should only be wearing it 5-10 minutes, maximum,” says Pam Mason of ASHA. “Half volume or less would be a safe volume for any of the devices.”

And though the survey doesn't recommend ditching your digital music player or other devices, it suggests you may want to do away with your headphones, particularly ear buds, which you'd tend to turn up to compete with other noises.

“They fit in the ear canal, send all that sound right down the ear canal rather than disperse it in the air like a speaker would, and they also don't isolate the sounds as well as more custom fitted earphones,” says Mason. “Isolating earphones allow you to hear the music better at a lower volume and therefore protect your hearing.”

ASHA says it's particularly concerned about music players aimed at children, and reminds parents if they can hear the music through the headphones their child is wearing, then that music is too loud.

One of the products tested was Disney's Mix Stick. In a statement, Disney said: "The Mix Stick player, like all our similar products, is compliant with FCC regulations and the Underwriters Laboratory. Additionally, given that the recording level of music can vary, there is a need to equip these types of devices with a volume range."

The other children's mp3 player tested was the Bratz Liptunes. Its developer, MGA, echoed what Disney said: “The volume control is highly adjustable for comfortable and clear music listening. On the front of our packaging it clearly states, ‘This is not a toy.’"

So ASHA recommends again, get headphones that block out ambient noise, only listen to your device at about half volume tops, and try to limit the amount of time you're listening to the devices.

By Adam Balkin
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