Is Your Child’s iPod Creating Hearing Loss?
Written by: MDHealthGuide Staff | Posted on: Wednesday, January 4, 2012
It’s not just the iPod, but all personal music players that are causing a ruckus in today’s youth, according to research to be published in Journal of Adolescent Health and reported on HealthDay News. The study shows that personal music players may have detrimental effects on hearing if they are played for too long, or much too loudly—both of which occur frequently among today’s youth.
The research was conducted along a 24-year time period, and included 8,710 girls of average age 16, from families of lower socio-economic status. These girls’ hearing was tested as they entered a residential facility in the northeastern part of the United States. Not surprisingly, high-frequency hearing loss rose from 10.1 percent to 19.2 percent between the years 1985 and 2008.
There was a heightened increase in personal music player use among the girls between 2001 and 2008—from 18.3 percent to 76.4 percent. During this time, the high-frequency hearing loss increased yet again, from 12.4 percent to 19.2 percent. The occurrence of tinnitus—ringing or buzzing in the ears—increased from 4.6 percent to 12.5 percent. Participants that used personal music devices experienced an 80 percent higher risk of developing hearing loss, according to the study. Also, 99.7 percent of the participants that experienced tinnitus listened to the devices.
The report, however, explains that though the findings show an association between the use of personal music players and hearing problems, that it doesn’t necessarily show a causal situation.
What does this all mean? It means more effort needs to be taken to inform our youth about the dangers and risks associated with constant use of personal music devices. Prolonged noise exposure—from devices such as our beloved iPods—can lead to very damaging consequences.
Source: Personal Music Players Damage Hearing Over Time
Is Your Child’s iPod Creating Hearing Loss?
It’s not just the iPod, but all personal music players that are causing a ruckus in today’s youth, according to research to be published in Journal of Adolescent Health and reported on HealthDay News. The study shows that personal music players may have detrimental effects on hearing if they are played for too long, or much too loudly—both of which occur frequently among today’s youth.
The research was conducted along a 24-year time period, and included 8,710 girls of average age 16, from families of lower socio-economic status. These girls’ hearing was tested as they entered a residential facility in the northeastern part of the United States. Not surprisingly, high-frequency hearing loss rose from 10.1 percent to 19.2 percent between the years 1985 and 2008.
There was a heightened increase in personal music player use among the girls between 2001 and 2008—from 18.3 percent to 76.4 percent. During this time, the high-frequency hearing loss increased yet again, from 12.4 percent to 19.2 percent. The occurrence of tinnitus—ringing or buzzing in the ears—increased from 4.6 percent to 12.5 percent. Participants that used personal music devices experienced an 80 percent higher risk of developing hearing loss, according to the study. Also, 99.7 percent of the participants that experienced tinnitus listened to the devices.
The report, however, explains that though the findings show an association between the use of personal music players and hearing problems, that it doesn’t necessarily show a causal situation.
What does this all mean? It means more effort needs to be taken to inform our youth about the dangers and risks associated with constant use of personal music devices. Prolonged noise exposure—from devices such as our beloved iPods—can lead to very damaging consequences.
Source: Personal Music Players Damage Hearing Over Time
About MDHealthGuide StaffMDHealthGuide staff consists healthcare professionals and wellness enthusiasts from general health, fitness, nutrition areas.
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