Warning: Earbuds and Music Players

Perhaps without noticing, many of us are being affected by a problem considered as one of the seven health problems of the modern age: the loss of hearing caused by earbuds and music players (HowStuffWorks, Inc). In current society, new technological devices are produced every day and people usually buy them having no concern about possible harmful disadvantages of the products (i.e., music fans). Because of that, more information about the risks of earbuds and music players should be presented to its users since these devices could lead to serious hearing problems.

Users may claim that it is their decision whether or not to use erbuds and at what volume they want to listen to music. Indeed, they are right; users are free to do what they would like to do with their devices. However, in order to make a good decision they should know first the risks and effects that those habits may cause.

Thus, people need to know that earbuds and personal music players are responsible for much of the damage caused to the ear. Just earbuds can damage the delicate inner ear since they are used inside the canal of the ear (De Vries, 2006). Moreover, listening to music has become an effective way of escaping from stressful environments for some people. But then another problem may appear. Earbuds allow external sound pass through them, so users have to turn the volume up (de Vries, 2006). Consequently, hearing problems will become more serious with this high volume.

At this point, music players also play a significant role in the hearing loss process. The sound is measured in decibels of sound (dB) and personal music players can reach an output of sound of approximately 115 dB (European Comission). Considering that a normal conversation reaches 60 dB (European Comission), it becomes clear that these music players are capable of achieving a high volume, more than the necessary for our ear.

Unfortunately, people do not know that the usage of those technological devices, earbuds and music players, can lead to hearing problems, especially if the time of exposure to them is long. In fact, a survey involving more than one thousand people shows that some of them have already experienced hearing loss symptoms such as turning the volume up when using the television or radio, or hearing a ringing in the ears (De Vries, 2006). Changes become necessary, then, to prevent people from losing their hearing capacity.

Therefore, earbuds and music players’ producers need to be regulated; the maximum volume levels of their products and the earbuds that are currently used should be improved so that no health problems affect their users. Besides, information about the risks of bad habits of listening to music should be included in the package of the products, personal music players and earbuds (if sold separately). This preventive information and current technology should make possible for music fans to enjoy new devices without being affected.

Andrey Badilla