MP3 listeners get hearing tests

By Mary Garrigan, Journal Staff Writer | Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Previous Page

Share

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• NewsVine
• Fark

Print

Email

RAPID CITY — Paula Kennison has four nephews who often get a lecture about the hearing-loss dangers posed by improper use of iPods, MP3 players and other music devices.

Kennison, an audiologist with the Rapid City School District and the Regional Rehabilitation Institute, delivered the same message to a lot of other kids and adults during a free hearing screening at Rushmore Mall on Monday.

Staff from RRI’s Audiology and Speech Pathology Department planned to test between 50 and 100 youths and adults for any sign of hearing loss while educating them about the use and misuse of in-ear personallistening devices. The screening was part of the American Speech Language Hearing Association’s campaign to reduce permanent ear damage in children and teens caused when the devices are used too loudly for too long, according to Ruth Samuelson, supervisor of the department.

Earlier this year, ASHA commissioned a national survey of high school students, which found that more than half reported at least one symptom of hearing loss.

Kennison sees a similar trend in her school testing locally.

“I’m seeing more noise-induced, high-frequency hearing loss of some kind in kids by the time they are in the seventh grade,” she said. “That used to be rare but is becoming more common.”

MP3 players are marketed to younger and younger audiences, Kennison said, noting that the personal listening devices that are covered with Disney characters are aimed at children ages 5-10 or even younger. She recommends that no one younger than the age of 8 use in-ear devices.

ASHA encourages the 60-60 rule and the three-feet guideline.

“No more than 60 minutes per day at 60 percent of volume is a safe benchmark,” Samuelson said.

At full volume, several popular MP3 players are safe for only three minutes at a time, ASHA said.

Also, if someone standing three feet or more away from the person using earphones or earbuds can hear what they are listening to, the volume is too loud. For better sound quality at lower decibels, Samuelson and Kennison recommend using noise-canceling earphones instead of the small earbuds that are in common use. They are much more expensive, but being able to hear is priceless, they said.

“I have four nephews, and I lecture them about it constantly,” Kennison said.

Contact Mary Garrigan at 394-8410 or mary.garrigan@rapidcityjournal.com