Posted on 01/11/2006 1:54:36 PM PST by Cagey
You've heard of BlackBerry thumb. Now there's iPod ear.
As use of portable MP3 music players soars, concerns are emerging that the gadgets may contribute to hearing damage. Some doctors say they are seeing younger and younger patients with signs of noise-induced hearing loss that wouldn't typically emerge before middle age. And they are worried that the constant use of MP3 players, which blare music directly into the ears, may be partly to blame.
Similar concerns were raised when the first generation of portable music players, including Sony Corp.'s Walkman, hit the market in the 1980s. But the latest portable stereos -- including Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod, and other players by iRiver, Sony and SanDisk -- can hold thousands of songs and have longer-lasting batteries than older players. As a result, people are listening to the devices for much longer periods of time. Because hearing damage is directly related to the duration of exposure -- not just the volume -- one concern is that the steady, long-term exposure to even moderately loud music could contribute to premature hearing loss.
Hearing specialists at centers such as the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, Children's Hospital Boston and the American Academy of Audiology say the effect they are seeing now may be only the beginning, because accumulated noise damage can take years before it causes noticeable problems. "We're only seeing a few teenagers with hearing loss at this point," says Brian Fligor, director of diagnostic audiology at Children's Hospital Boston. But, he adds that many others may have subtle hearing loss that they have yet to recognize, "and by the time they do, they'll have done substantial damage."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
What a bunch of malarchy.
Latest iPod accessory ping.
How loud is this??
WHAT?!?!?!?!
Just part of Apple's plan to sell the very trendy and expensive iCochlearImplant.
I see that Hillary Clinton shrieking (185 db) did not fit on your chart.
Can you hear me NOW?
I don't think it's malarkey. I noticed my ears hurting after using an Ipod. I blame the ear-buds.
I also notice many people using larger 'ear-covering' headphones.
This is not product malfunction it's user malfunction.
I SAID "THEY SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT THE SONY WALMAN WHEN IT CAME OUT!!!!"
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?!?!?
;^P
I am going to have to call BS on this.
Like the story said, this stupid RUMOR has been around since I bought and used my first Walkman. Saying that since the batteries last longer leads to longer use is crap. I ALWAYS had a back-up supply and I listened to my Walkman everywhere.
What's malarchy about it? You listen to sound that's too loud for too long you'll lose your hearing. I got used to wearing hearing protection at a previous job when working on the factory floor. I even where my ear muffs when I mow or run my string trimmer (and of course while shooting too).
I happen to be on the design team that designs the chips in the iPOD. Our company has invested in the future by making a bid for the "Miracle Ear" company. We are also coming out with a "closed caption" model for music videos
You may be onto something as I did notice there is a volume control on the iPod. Although I will admit it took a couple of thunderous explosions of Jim Morrison to remind me to make sure the volume is set BEFORE the selection is started and the earbuds are in place.
Maybe Apple could include some sort of control on the iPod so users could adjust the volume level... Oh, wait... Never mind.
Actually though ... I really am on the iPOD chip design team
where->wear. When will JimRob install a context sensitive homophone checker?
Hahahahaha!
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