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SALT LAKE CITY -- The earbud speakers are, in many ways, more comfortable and produce a better sound than their larger counterparts that cover the entire ear. But, that's part of the problem.
Dr. Kevin Wilson, assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Utah said, "Essentially, all of the sound that is produced by the device goes into the ear canal, and the earbuds typically have a pretty good feel so there's not much pressure that's lost."
It has to do not only with the volume of the sound that is listened to, but also the length of time.
–Dr. Kevin Wilson
Wilson says with larger headphones, a lot of the sound and pressure gets bounced out of the ear canal. While it's hard to prove the earbuds are causing the damage, Wilson says there is a definite correlation.
"It has to do not only with the volume of the sound that is listened to, but also the length of time."
Even listening to music at lower volumes can cause long term damage. But, too many of us are playing music way too loud.
"A lot of the kids are listening to it at 90 or 95 percent of maximum. That's up into the dangerous level. So, I ask them to turn it down more into 50, 60 or 70 percent range, which is the safer level."
He says young adults and teens may not notice the damage to their ears while they're young, but they surely will when they get older. He says sound may be not only quieter, but more muddled when they reach middle age.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
