A survey performed back in 1988-94 found that 15% of American teens suffered hearing loss, even if slight.  Bu a repeat study in 2005-6 showed that the percentage has risen to almost 20%, a 1/3 increase.

Hearing loss is 50% more common in poor families.  More than half the time, it is one-sided, and involved high-frequency sounds.

No one is sure why so many teens are losing their hearing.  It’s surprisingly difficult to prove that loud music (iPods, etc.) are the cause, although an Australian study showed a 70% increase in risk of hearing loss from using “personal stereo devices.”

But my view is that it’s worth the easy action, to protect kids’ hearing.  You can set a “loudness limit” on an iPod, and set a password to block resetting it.  (Click here to read how.)

Click here to see my previous post about hearing loss.

Click here to see a video about the research.

Click here to find the research article:
JAMA, August 18, 2010 – Vol 304, No. 7, p 772-778.

–  David Epstein, MD

A:  Absolutely.  Headphones pose a risk of hearing damage for children; this is an important issue.  Several recent news reports have spotlighted cases of permanent hearing damage in older adults due to their listening habits in childhood.

Noise induced hearing damage is caused by a combination of loudness and prolonged listening times; giving the ears a “break” of a quiet period after listening for a while may offer some protection.  Most people use open-air style headphones, or the “ear bud” style such as iPod earphones.  In noisy areas, users may crank up the volume in an attempt to drown out ambient noise.  Unfortunately, this puts the hearing at risk.  Noise-blocking or noise-canceling headphones may be less dangerous.

Some experts fear that aerobic exercise may increase the danger of noise-induced hearing loss, because blood is diverted from the organs of hearing (not to mention the risk of injury due to distraction from the music).

Permanent damage may occur before any symptoms (such as ringing in the ears or difficulty understanding speech) are apparent, so prevention of hearing loss by moderation of listening habits is crucial.

David Epstein MD