US researchers are to publish the first detailed guidelines on safe volume levels for listening to the Apple iPod with earphones, it has been announced.
The scientists have found that in-ear earphones are no more dangerous than headphones placed over the ears, but that many listeners raise the volume to "risky levels" when in noisy surroundings.
Findings of the study will be presented at a national conference, entitled Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Children at Work and Play, in Cincinnati later this week.
Audiologists Cory Portnuff of the University of Colorado, Terri Ives of the PCO School of Audiology in Elkins Park and Brian Fligor of the Children's Hospital Boston based their studies on the effects of listening to the Apple iPod, the iPod Nano, the iPod Mini, the Creative Zen Micro and the SanDisk Sansa.
Mr Portnuff, a PhD candidate, said: "Damage to hearing occurs when a person is exposed to loud sounds over time.
"The risk of hearing loss increases as sound is played louder and louder for longer durations."
Listening to music at full volume for more than five minutes per day could increase the risk of hearing loss in a typical person, according to the report.
© 2006 Adfero Ltd
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