Loud Music & Ear Damage

October 04, 2005 (KABC) -- Researchers fear the growing popularity of portable music players is contributing to hearing loss in younger people. Doctors say today's youth will end up wearing hearing aids before their time.

It's a noisy world, but it's getting even noisier for millions of young people who like to bring loud sounds right inside their heads. Hearing loss experts see this trend across the nation, older ears on younger bodies.

Ipods and other mp3 players with earbuds that attach directly to the ear, including cell phones, are contributing to hearing loss in younger people.

The damage is irreversible. That's why Audiology Researcher Sigrid Soli with the House Ear Institute says folks need to go on a noise diet.

Federal guidelines advise a limited amount of exposure to noise 85 decibels or more. Sounds like lawn mowers, jet engines and rock concerts. And if you spend hours in a place where you have to raise your voice to be heard, Soli says use earplugs to give your ears a rest.

He says hearing involves an electrical charge that vibrates the tiny hairs inside your ears, like batteries, ears need to recharge.

So if you don't want the hearing of 90-year-old when you're in your 30s, Soli advises that we call cut back.

Ringing in your ears is a sign your ears are trying to recharge after some type of noise trauma. Dr. Soli also says earbuds can be much more harmful than regular earphones because the buds go in much deeper into the ear canal.

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