Did You Know?
The top volume on your MP3 player can hurt your hearing
Do you love your iPod or other MP3 player? Can you learn to love it a little more…quietly?
Experts who study the way we hear have a loud message for kids and teens: if you use earbuds a lot (you know who you are!), and if the volume is too high, you are at risk of hearing loss later in life.
Here are two ways that you can tell if the volume of your MP3 player is too high:
- Do your earbuds prevent you from hearing what’s going on around you?
- Can someone sitting next to you hear the music seeping out of your earbuds?
If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, then you’d be smart to turn down the volume.
How can you keep enjoying your music and audiobooks, but also protect your hearing?
- Keep the volume down. Turning it up for one song is fine. Keeping the volume there for every song you listen to? Not so good.
- Take a break. If you use your MP3 player while doing your homework or riding in the car, listen for half an hour, and then tune out for a while.
- Using your MP3 player in an already noisy environment can be bad for your ears. You might be tempted to turn the volume waaaaaay up so that you can hear your songs. Instead, keep the earbuds out until you’re in a quieter spot.
To learn more about MP3 players and your hearing, see:
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