Do Ipods hurt your ears?

Question

Thinking about getting one, does it somehow damage your ears?

Answer 1

I'm a music-loving Audiologist, and the answer is...

YES. Sustained noises over 85dB are damaging to the microscopic hair cells within the cochlea (inner ear) which are the point of transferring sound from mechanical vibration to neuro-electrical brain waves.

It is NOT the iPod's fault -- it is the user's fault for turning the sound too loud. Apple has released sound limiting capability in the latest iPod software updater. However, it does not indicate a decibel output level, because that will vary depending on the headphones.

The output of the headphones varies, and the amount of outside noise that can be heard through the headphones also varies. What tends to happen is that ear bud style phones allow a lot of ambient noise into your ears, and therefore, the listener tends to turn the music up to drown out the other noises.

That is why they have developed "noise canceling" headphones and also deeper fitting phones that seal the ear canal more efficiently. The down-side of those devices is that you are less aware of your environment, and so are not recommended when you are outdoors or in an environment where you need to hear if someone shouts, "look out" or "behind you" or "fire" - so they are not very safe.

It is the consumer's responsibility to use common sense and public information to make an informed decision on which technology to use. Below are some additional resources.

Answer 2

ipods only damage your ears if turned above volume 80 which is pretty darn loud, half of the bar is 50 so 6/8 of the volume bar is 80.

Answer 3

you could run the risk or loseing you hearing. but thats only if you have you ipod volume more then 75% up and if you use it for verry long periods of time. but you will have the same problem with any device that you put up close to your ear. i would still get one just use it normaly and you should be fine. i recomand to get an ipod nano, i got one and its really awsome

Answer 4

Nope!

The loudest an IPod can play music is 104 db (American Ipods that is)

Most headphones only go up to 100db and thats okay for your eardrums.

The headphones that come with the Ipod are cheap and very weak when it comes to sound though.

Answer 5

Studies have shown that people are either 15 or 20 times more lifely to become deaf and need hearing aids as they age. Don't listen to music louder than you can handle! You may pay the price someday!

Answer 6

All noise (if it is loud enough) can damage your hearing over time or instantly. Keep the noise level on the iPod down and you should be fine.

Answer 7

Not if you don't blast the sound with the earphones. Because you actually stick them into your ear, the sound is very concentrated so just keep the volume down and it should be fine.

Answer 8

no, you can get cumffy head phones if the ones they give you hurt ur ears and the only other why it hurt is turning up the musica to load so just dont do that.

Answer 9

If you listen to it too loud, yes. I suggest getting either noise-canceling or noise-isolation headphones for your iPod. They block out external noise so you don't have to turn up the volume on your iPod to listen to music. For more information click on the following link: http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/hughes/35;_ylt=AlGEoX3iYTb0Q98dwzNOaCQSLpA5

Answer 10

from experience, yes they do. my moms friend listened to his ipod on full vol. all the time and now he has lost his hearing. be verrry careful man. im really serious. cuz u cant sue apple because they are not liable for hearing loss.