[PCWorld]

Post your comments for When Does an MP3 Player Fry Your Hearing? here

[theonlybuster]

I have to thank the scientists for saying what we've already known. It's a fact that most everyone will agree that music is felt and not heard, so the louder you turn it up, the more into it you feel.
I think it's hilarious that even Apple attempted to get around this idea by lowering the max volume level on their IPods, yet there are tons of hacks and software updates to override it.
In short, yes we know it's bad, but tell me you don't enjoy music more when you can feel it pulsating through your body.

[Flashorn]

Did you know that anything that pushes more than one(1) watt of power through your headphones or ear plugs WILL result in permanent damage to your hearing ,
How often have you "heard" of people working in loud environment having lost or severely depreciated their hearing, to the point of having to wear "Hearing Aid" apparatus.

How many more studies do we need to convince the younger generation of this plague.

All you see walking down the street are young folks with these strings hanging from their heads and not considering the long term effects on their well being.

IF you want to FEEL the music , why don't you get yourself a good pair of speakers and a sub woofer At least they won't reside in your ear canal and wont be ON for half of the day.



FLASHORN.

[theonlybuster]

the point of all this was for portable use. What use is a subwoofer in terms or portable use, and how practical is it for jogging and working out?

I know you want to say I'm wrong and you're right, but please think about what you're saying first

[Flashorn]

My point was not being right or wrong BUT, the consequences of your actions.

Did you not mention that there are lots of work arounds to restrict the amount of power being delivered to the headphones.

THAT WAS my POINT . The long term EFFECT.



FLASHORN.

[ElBarto16]

Wow this is ridicules why would the manufacturer be responsible that just raises prices for people and some do know the dangers. It is sad that we rely on the company that made the product to stop this. Can't we do something why is it the manufactures responsibility? Is it because your to lazy to do something for ourselves or our kids that you had and not a company?
BTW I'm a kid I know the dangers and I do use the ipod volume lock and sometimes I put it on the lowest setting but still People shouldn't blame manufacturers or put the blame on them. It's both the kids and parents fault. Kids know it yet some still ignore it. Parents wake up if you can hear the music and your not listening to it that is BAD! continued

For the first commenter it isn't apple that should be yelled at for anything. They shouldn't have to even offer that. It isn't their responsibility it is yours and your parents if your a kid!
For commenter 2 just because they are listening doesn't mean they are blasting it as I said above I listen to music yet I don't blast it! So don't apply stereotypes

[Flashorn]

ElBarto16 said:

continued
For the first commenter it isn't apple that should be yelled at for anything. They shouldn't have to even offer that. It isn't their responsibility it is yours and your parents if your a kid!
For commenter 2 just because they are listening doesn't mean they are blasting it as I said above I listen to music yet I don't blast it! So don't apply stereotypes

Are you feeling guilty?



FLASHORN

[rgreen4]

This whole discussion reminds me of a business trip I made in the early 70's. I was in Occupational Safety and working for a steel fabricator in Dallas, Tx. Noise level and hearing protection were a way of life, and we made a trip to an outlying plant that had resisted universal hearing protection in all areas of the plant. We took the dosimeter (portable device to measure sound levels) and found that while some areas exceeded 90db, all other areas were marginal at 88db. Plant management was convinced.
That evening we went out to a local bar and grill, and took the dosimeter with us out of curiosity. Sitting at the back the sound was louder than we expected, so one of us went out and retrieved the dosimeter from the car, the sound level in the back of the room was 94db and at the front near the band, 118db! We go funny looks as we were wearing ear plugs the rest of the evening.

[Flashorn]

Hey rgreen!!
Yes, I guess I would have given you a weird look too! LOL!!!

But , you see, the fact of the matter is that , this is IN the ear AND on a constant basis, day in , day out.

It ( the sound) might not be too loud but, has the same effect as the work environment that you just described.

Some of the more expensive ear buds are approching or are above 100db of SPL( sound presure level). Can you imagine the damage .

Being exposed to such noise level on a day to day basis will in the long run harden you ear drum and thus result in poor hearing after a certain amount of time.

I just happen to work for a Urban Transit CO. and the workers cleaning out the buses are ALL obliged to wear special masks for obvious health reasons AND special ear coverings , again for obvious reasons.

If you decide that will not wear those protective garments, then , management will not keep you onboard . WE will not help you destroy YOUR health!

Time to move on.



FLASHORN.

[piyushsingh]

Flashorn said:

All you see walking down the street are young folks with these strings hanging from their heads and not considering the long term effects on their well being.


IF you want to FEEL the music , why don't you get yourself a good pair of speakers and a sub woofer At least they won't reside in your ear canal and wont be ON for half of the day.

Agree with flashorn on that. Most of my friends do the same.

FEEL the music - cant be done till you have some extra powerful woofers to vibrate the floor while you turn up the speakers. LOL

And for portable use, my cellphone handles all my needs. Sometimes i just think , whats the need of mp3 players and ipods(they can do only one task) ??

[ElBarto16]

Guilty about what?

[Flashorn]

Hey ElBarto!!

I was just playing with you.

I was not stereotyping but, rather generalizing. You see, to me, young people would mean 30 years of age and under, since I would probably be old enough to be your Gran father(you'd better have a good sense of humor).

With the kind of work that I am involved with, I see this all the time and it frustrates me because I know that in the near future those young folks Will have some kind of hearing problem. You seem to have a good head on your shoulder and I see good common sense.

That said , being around noisy environments , I have acquired the experience and knowledge to understand AND see first hand what kind of damage can be done to your ears.

I value my hearing and eye sight above all else. Should I loose one or the other , that would be devastating to me. So , I try very hard to convey my experience to others but , with ought prejudice.

In the end , It is Your decision , I can only advise and hope that you will take it under consideration

In other words , It's all up to you(generally speaking) .



FLASHORN.

[coastie65]

Hi all, I thought I might chime in here with a personal note. While in the service I worked in an Engineroom aboard ship for over two years. There were two large Diesel main engines ( the type you would find on a Diesel locomotive) plus two smaller diesel generators. After I got out I worked for Union Camp Corp. in their corrugated division on the corrugator for 5 years. At no time did I use ear protection. My last employment was in sheet metal fabrication ( 16+ years) making truck bodies, still no ear protection ( I was on the Safety Committee). My last hearing test said that I was severly deaf in one ear and profoundly deaf in the other and I need hearing aids in both ears. I can not hear the beeps that you might get from the computer nor can I hear a whistle blow such as a referee might use just to name two things. Maybe one of these days I'll get the hearing aids so I can hear again. Bottom line is, you can scoff at the article, but when your hearing ends up impaired than it will be too late as I found out. coastie65

[rgreen4]

I almost put mine in also. I work with a goup of young people, ages 15-21 in Scouts, and they have learned if they want to say something to me quietly, it has to be on my right side. When the youth leader and I go to meetings, he is always on my right side. I only have moderate loss in that ear compared to severe in the left. I flew fixed wing piston powered aircraft in the Navy for 5 years, and even though we had the helmet, the hearing protection was minimal. Then at times I was aboard an Aircraft Carrier which is not known for its silence. Add in a few trips to the gun range to qualify with rifle and pistol (hearing protection - what hearing protection?).
Add in lawnmowers, tractors, etc. and there are a lot of assaults on the hearing. I now wear hearing protection when on the tractor and mower, to protect what I have left. Then I drive down the street and a car pulls up on one side, and his music spilling out with windows closed covers up mine with my windows closed. The though of what they are doing to their ears is terrible. It's not just the earbuds that are dangerous, the companies that put in massive audio power in cars should also be held accountable, but, they are small and part of the culture. By the time the damage is known, they will be gone.

[coastie65]

Yeah, I forgot about the range. No ear muffs or plugs at that time. I qualified with both the M-1 Garand and the M-16 later on as well as the old Colt .45. Oddly enough, the "long" guns never bothered me, but when I was shooting with the .45 ( Hand Gun ), it got got downright painful as far as my ears went. That is not to mention all the bars I used hang out in with the loud bands playing. I have to be looking directly at someone when they are talking to me. I think I am subconciously reading lips but am not sure. I guess someday I'll check and see if the VA will give me some hearing aids as I am Service Connected. You're right about the lawn stuff. Other than the mower, I also have a gas powered weed whacker that is rather noisey, although I think my neighbor's gas powered blower is worse. I have an Interstate Highway ( I-64) behind my house, and hear those cars go by with the bass thumping while I am in the house with the windows closed and that is about 125' or so away. coastie65

[rkinne01]

I am half deaf (not the politacally correct term but I don't care), I was born without hearing in my left ear. My hearing is very important to me, I make sure I don't do things that will put my hearing at risk. The precautions that I take are my choice and responsiblity (imagine that), forcing Apple or the other MP3 player companies to adapt their products will only increase prices and limit product selection. The government only makes things worse when they force these changes, corporations and especailly consumers don't like to be told whats best for them.

I grow weary of the government telling us how we should use the products we buy. I shouldn't be forced to wear a seatbelt if I don't want to. I should be able to do whatever I want with the music I purchase.

[hlevins]

For someone using a portable music player, the risk to your hearing is a function of both the level of the sound (decibels) and the duration of the exposure (how long you listen). Scientists have done research on the maximum amount of time you can listen to a player given the type of earbud/headphones you are using and how high the volume is (as a percentage of full volume). For example, using an iPod stock earphone, you can listen all day long if the volume is set at only 10-50% of maximum. At 100% volume, you can listen only five minutes before doing permanent damage. So you don't notice any damage? The damage is cumulative. Eventually, especially as you age, the hearing loss will become evident. You say you're young and don't care? Helen Keller said deafness is far worse than blindness. Most people shudder with horror at the thought of becoming blind but don't realize that the "fun" they are having now with a portable music player will lead to a fate far worse. Don't be an idiot -- turn down the volume on your portable music device. P.S. My wife is a hearing scientist who will soon be publishing a book -- for consumers -- on hearing, hearing loss, and what can be done about the latter.

[Flashorn]

Hey hlevins!!

I would like to thank you for responding and confirming our thoughts on this matter.

It IS our responsibility to act in a way that will not endanger our lives and most importantly our QUALITY of life.

Not only does irresponsible actions affect us but, has a direct consequence on the society at large.

If you are wondering what consequences, just ask yourself why are your hospital costs, insurance bills, TAXES going up all the time.

These, are just a few of the costs involved. I could go on but, you might think that I'm trying to scare you.

Well, if this is not enough to make you think a little about doing the right thing, I really don't know how to convey my and most of all responders to this thread, the message of moderation.



hlevins, it would be nice of you to come back to this thread once your wife has published her book and tell a little bit about it,

Like where to buy, and how much and also when to expect the book to be available.



Thank You in advance.



FLASHORN.