Today, users of portable music players may be turning up the volume even further to avoid hearing the same plea from concerned adults.

Noise-induced hearing loss is escalating in the United States among several age groups. Portable music players and other items that attach directly to the ears are among the primary culprits.

Dan Hamersky, an audiologist with Prevea Health, said there are two ways to damage the inner ear. First is a loud, intense sound, such as a gunshot. Second is extended exposure to a noise, such as an MP3 player at 60 percent volume for six hours or a drill or other power tool, he said.

This causes damage to the inner ear and once it is damaged, there is no way to repair it, he said. "Physicians have been concerned about rock musicians, people on factory lines and stock car drivers for years. These people are ending up with significant hearing loss. It does not cause pain or bleeding. They just start asking why their ears are ringing or asking 'what' so much," he said.

Hamersky said, "I tell parents if you hear music from someone who is three feet away, tell them to turn it down."

"In the 1970s and 1980s when headphones were introduced, there was concern because people were cranking the music up so loud. It's just like with light. It gets to be so bright, it hurts your eyes."

Just as music player technology has changed, so has technology that helps those dealing with hearing loss. There are different types of hearing aids.

One of the newest products on the market is a Diva High Definition hearing aid from Widex. It incorporates a computer and a laser. It uses three-dimensional imaging to produce a virtual image of the ear, which ensures a more precise fit than what was available before, Hamersky said.

"At some time in the future, we may be able to repair nerve damage, but it's still too early in the research for that," he said.

Audiologists offer these tips to protect your hearing:

- Don't stuff cotton or tissue in your ears. They aren't very effective at reducing noise levels.

- Don't risk injury by poking something in your ears when trying to clean them.

- Don't ignore symptoms of hearing loss, such as ringing in your ears or a feeling that your hearing is muffled.

- Move as far away from the source of loud noise as possible. By doubling the distance between you and the source, you can reduce the sound level by about one fourth.

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