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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Friday, August 19, 2005

Ringing in your ears, why your iPod could drive you mad

4 Hearing Loss:

While many people claim to be in love with their iPod and some are quite simply unable to function without it, a few are beginning to find that when they take their earphones out, that the music just doesn't stop. The problem is that portable music players are damaging users' hearing. The irritating hum that sometimes rings in our ears, known as tinnitus, is becoming a potentially serious issue for people playing their music at very high levels. Apparently the people worst affected by tinnitus are commuters, who try and drown out the sound of trains, traffic and other peoples music, by turning their own itunes up as high as they will go.

Tinnitus is a continuous buzzing in the ears which is heard only by the person with tinnitus. Many sufferers complain of buzzing, whooshing, chirping, hissing, ocean waves and even music in their ears. They’re not going mad, simply suffering with one of the most irritating afflictions there is. Some people complain of tinnitus appearing only occasionally and some unlucky people experience it 24 hours a day every day. There are quite a few causes of this debilitating problem, which is associated with the ‘sensorineural’ system; the transmittal of signals from the inner ear to the brain. It frequently occurs in older people as it is linked to loss of hearing. However one of the main causes of tinnitus is exposure to loud noises.

As a long-time tinnitus sufferer, I cringe every time I can hear music coming out of someone else's headphones, or I hear a car drive by with the stereo thumping so loud I can't hear myself think. Those people are going to suffer from massive hearing loss and, probably, tinnitus, which can be maddening. Worst of all, it's permanent, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it once it happens.

There is, however, something you can do about it before it happens. Just turn down the volume. I've tried to explain these issues to everyone I know who has the TV volume turned up way too loud--too many of them, sadly--but few listen. The damage you're doing to yourself will last a lifetime. Surely, that's something to give you--and your iPod--pause.

[ Posted at 2:32 PM | Permalink ]