MP3s & Hearing Loss

“Over the course of time, what we find is: that noise will damage the hearing mechanism.”

– Kadyn Williams, Audiologist

One in three Americans will suffer from a ringing in their ears at some point in their lives. Now it seems that number may get worse because of the listening habits of young people.

-They attend loud concerts,

-Blast their car stereos,

And now, another threat to hearing…

“I have a little MP3 player,” says 18-year-old Krishna

“I have an iPod Shuffle,” says Austin, also 18.

And 18-year-old Elizabeth tells us, “I have a CD player that’s all I have cause I have about an thousand and a billion CD’s.”

Millions of kids today listen to music through portable headphones. Some for hours on end… with the volume pumped up. 18-year-old Briana has had her MP3, “For about 3 years I listen to it everyday, all the time.” Austin listens, “On the bus. Every bus ride, every time.”

Rashaun, who’s 19, says, I’ve been told by my friends that they can hear me listening to it. So, I guess it’s pretty loud.” Elizabeth admits that, “Sometimes when I take the earphones off I have some ringing.” That ringing in the ear is called tinnitus… the first sign of hearing loss. Audiologists say it’s happening to more teenagers than ever before.

Audiologist Kadyn Williams explains, “We’re concerned with both intensity, loudness, as well as the duration. And the duration is certainly on the rise. Give the ear a little bit of rest; it may come back to a more normal level. But over the course of time, what we find is: that noise will damage the hearing mechanism.”

She says it’s not easy to convince kids that the danger of hearing loss is real…but parents need to try. ”I think bringing in examples of even rock musicians today who have hearing loss. One of the things we have to do is relate to them on their level. It’s not cool to have a hearing loss.”

In the meantime, Austin is pumping up the volume. “No I don’t really think about it,” he says. “I’m not really too worried about it.” Neither is Krishna. “I mean there’s hearing aides. If I go deaf it’s okay!” And Kadyn Williams says it isn’t just teenagers who are using MP3’s and IPOD’s. She’s starting to see kids as young as eight-years-old, who listen to the devices constantly.

As the popularity of MP3 players continues to skyrocket, it is vital that parents stress the importance of listening to music responsibly and caution their children to the long-term effects of listening to music too loudly. Researchers have found that exposure to loud sounds can lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Researchers tested the hearing of over 5,000 children ages 6 to 19 years and found that 12.5 percent of the children had evidence of a NIHL. Using their data, the researchers estimated that approximately 5.2 million children in the United States have a NIHL in one or both ears, and boys appear to be affected more often than girls.

NIHL occurs when the ears’ sensory cells and nerve fibers are damaged by exposure to loud sounds. If these cells and fibers are destroyed, hearing loss is permanent. According to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIHL can be caused by a one-time exposure to a loud sound as well as by repeated exposure to sounds at various loudness levels over an extended period of time.

Symptoms of NIHL caused by repeated exposure increase gradually and may include:

• Vague feelings of pressure or fullness in the ears
• Sounds becoming distorted or muffled
• Difficulty understanding speech
• A ringing sound in the ears when in a quiet place

NIHL due to repeated exposure is cumulative. If damage continues, hearing declines further.

The loudness of sound is measured in units called decibels. Conversational speech is generally 60 decibels. The noise caused by traffic can be around 80 decibels. Louder noises, such as a motorcycle or firecracker, can range from 120 to 140 decibels.

Experts at the NIDCD say that sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. Generally, if you have to shout to be heard above the noise, or if you can’t understand someone who is speaking to you from less than two feet away, the noise around you is too loud.

In addition to being aware of the noise level around you and preventing your child from playing music too loudly, experts at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) urge parents to consider the level of noise a child’s toys can make. Many toys, particularly when held close to the ear, emit damaging levels of noise. Cap guns, vehicles with horns and sirens, walkie-talkies, and even musical instruments are capable of being too loud. ASHA recommends that parents listen to a toy before purchasing it and to check toys already at home.

NIHL can be prevented. The NIDCD urges all individuals to understand the hazards of noise and how to practice good health in everyday life. Consider the following:

• Know which noises can cause damage (those above 75 decibels)
• Wear earplugs or other hearing protective devices when involved in a loud activity
• Protect children who are too young to protect themselves
• Don’t allow your child to listen to his/her headphones too loudly

National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
American Academy of Family Physicians
Pediatrics