New study questions extent of iPod-induced hearing loss

Noise induced hearing loss is especially troublesome in children. Children can experience noise induced hearing loss from a variety of sources, including music, machinery, and even toys, which can emit sounds over 100 dB. Parents should place protection over the ears of their children in loud environments.

http://www.moggiesearmuffs.com/noise-induced-hearing-loss-in-children.html

I've got the exact oppsite problem. I find that I can't bring the volume on my iPhone LOW enough that make it comfortable with ANY headphones w/o a separate volume control on the headphones themselves.

Nothing in this blurb indicated that those suffering from hearing loss use iPods, earphones, or any type of earphone based music player.

There are often distinct differences between the affect of music (even very loud) and industrial noise on hearing and the resulting loss.

Also unless the person being tested had no loud noise exposure for 10-12 hours before the test, said test data is essentially garbage.

"Throw in another statistic, a 100 percent increase in the number of iPods in existence from 2005-06 as compared to 1988-94, and it's clear what's behind this statistically significant rise in teen hearing loss."

The number of iPods have "doubled" from 1988-94? Then there are still... zero iPods... or did I misunderstand something?

Also, I question how relevant iPods in specific are in this conversation... I remember using a walkman and later a discman as I was working in cornfields during the summers of my younger years. In fact, most kids I knew used such devices on a regular basis for personal music enjoyment, and nowadays, they use their iPods or other digital music players instead. I wasn't under impression that these devices had significantly lower volumes than today's i-devices, making them safer. Perhaps the prevalence of in-ear headphones is the problem, or maybe I'm just crazy and people really ARE listening to music WAY more than they were before.

I think cell phone volume can be partially attributed to this. I have 2 teenage daughters and if I ever get on one of their phones, it's amazing how loud they have it! I have to turn them down quite a bit. And I'm a musician who has been playing on loud stages in close proximity to drummers/cymbals for 20 years!

It's astonishing to me the pseudo-news that gets posted here. This article lacks any discussion on the actual volume levels that get pumped out of an iPod (it's about 85 dBs around 60-70%), and you're quoting a study that has nothing to do with the discussion that follows.

Very early in the iPod's existence, I had a conversation with my doctor about this. I mentioned that bought some Sony in-ear earphones, because I had to turn the sound up too high. He had some concerns in general about 'bringing the sound even closer to my hearing,' but when I told him that I was able to cut the volume by 50% or more, he endorsed my decision.

With each iPod, now iPhone, I give my white earbuds to my wife, who does not like in-ear headphones. They usually wear out in a few months for her, so this has worked out well.

Meanwhile I am enormously happy with my Ultimate Ears 700s and . Waiting for the Ultimate Ears 500vis to use for phone calls.

The possibility of hearing loss due to sound (ie music) producing devices has been around far longer than the ipod.

" I can't listen to music on my iPhone at more than about 60 percent of maximum..."
Do you have Volume Adjust enabled on your iPhone?
Do you use the standard headphones or in-ear ones?

I have Volume Adjust and in-ear headphones, the ones made by Apple, and I "need" 80% of vol. to really enjoy my music. Environment also counts, of course.