Dean Garstecki, chairman of Northwestern's Communication Sciences and Disorders Department is warning people who listen to thier portable audio devices using earbuds to be careful or else be prepared for the likeihood of hearing loss.
According to research the "earbuds' close proximity to the eardrum, in combination with their ability to magnify the sound signal by as much as six to nine decibels, raises the intensity of the sound" thus promoting the likelihood of hearing loss.
"Garstecki and other audiologists want music listeners to adopt their so-called "60 percent, 60 minute" rule. The solution, they said, is to spend no more than one hour each day listening to an MP3 player or iPod with the volume level lower than 60 percent of the maximum.
"If music listeners are willing to turn the volume down further still and use different headphones, they can increase the amount of time that they can safely listen," Garstecki pointed out."
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