Turn it down

With the introduction and popularization of iPods, "earbud" headphones are being used more and more. IU hearing experts say that although earbuds may not have a direct impact on hearing loss, students should take extra caution when listening with them.\nEarbud headphones are small and inserted into the ear, rather than placed over them. Nancy Barlow, clinical assistant professor for the IU Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and director of the IU hearing clinic, said these headphones sometimes indirectly cause more hearing damage because they allow outside noise to enter the ear, causing listeners to turn their music up louder.\n"It seems as if one of the issues is that the standard-size headphones that come with iPods don't typically fit a person's ear," she said. "When they don't fit well, one way to counter that is to turn the volume up."\nEarbud headphones are also closer to the more sensitive parts of the inner ear, which Matt Burk, assistant scientist for the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, said might cause more hearing problems.\n"There's also the issue that they're just farther in your ear," Burk said, "It's a combination of just playing them louder because they don't seal as well, and the fact that they're closer, so it's just more dangerous to the ear."\nNick Hipskind, a former professor for the speech and hearing sciences department who researched hearing conservation, agreed that the closeness to the ear canal might make a difference, but said hearing damage mainly depends on the volume.\n"The sound certainly gets to the canal and to the inner ear with the earbuds a little more efficiently," he said. "It's really just how much you turn the volume control up."\nAlong with volume, though, Burk said the amount of time spent listening makes just as much of a difference.\n"Generally, damage to your hearing is a combination of your overall volume and how long you're listening," Burk said. "Even if you're listening softly, but for a longer period of time, it can still cause damage."\nHipskind said regardless of the type of headphones. most students just listen to their music too loudly.\n"You're allowed to be in 90 decibels for eight hours per day without causing a hearing loss," he said. "Anything 115 decibels and above, we really shouldn't be in it at all. They have measured it where kids have had their headphones at 120, 125 and 130 decibels."\nHipskind said hearing loss occurs immediately and accumulates over time when listening to headphones too loudly.\nTo make safer, better-fitting earbud headphones, the IU hearing clinic sells custom-fit earbud headphones for $110 a pair. Burk said these headphones block out more background noise.\n"The benefit (to the custom-fit headphones) is that it blocks out more of the background noise so you don't have to listen as loudly," he said. "The downside is that even though they block out the background noise, they still can be played loudly."\nBurk recommended the earphone brands Etymotic, Shure and Westone. \nStudents can make appointments to have themselves fitted for custom earphones at the hearing clinic Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. by calling 855-7439.