The iPod Can Cause Temporary Hearing Loss, Say Researchers

It isn’t just your iPod, any portable personal music player may cause temporary hearing loss if you listen to it too loud and really blast it, says the new research.

The potential risks have been suggested ever since the time of Sony’s first Walkman and headphones hit the market. Now with iPods dangling from the end of so many arms, it is time to pay attention the potential damage that could be caused.

As for the long term risk of what may happen due to long term recreational noise exposure is yet another question that needs additional research.

Occupational noise which causes hearing loss is one thing and recreational noise is another that may have the same impact.

This would include listening to your iPod, listening to very loud music at a concert or club, and even the noise at sporting events with horns and vuvuzela horns constantly being blown.

The Corti, an organ of the inner ear that contains hair cells can be altered by excessive loud noises. Researchers found that participants of the study exhibited temporary changes in their hearing after they had been listening to rock or pop music on their iPod or similar for an hour.