Teenagers still blowing their ear-drums out with music

...despite being aware of the risks, says report

27 March 2008 13:34 GMT / By Katie Scott

You can tell them a thousand times, but teenagers just won't listen, because they've got their iPod on too loud.

According to new research from the Netherlands, teenagers do understand that listening to loud music can damage their ears, but they do it anyway.

The study took place at two Dutch high schools.

Researchers found that teenagers will frequently play their music at maximum volume even though they are fully aware of the problems it can cause to their hearing.

And the students added that they're not going to change their habits believing themselves somehow immune to the damage.

It seems that warnings are falling on deaf ears.

The report of the findings has now been published in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Researchers say that parents must continue to tell their kids why they should turn the volume down; and should also look out for tell tale signs such as a kid complaining about ringing in the ears or sounds being "muffled".

And the report recommends that MP3 player manufacturers also get involved, by, for example, adding indicators to devices that show when the volume could be damaging.

Volumes at or above 90 decibels (dB) are believed to be hazardous, said the team, but noise levels need to reach 120dB to 140dB to become uncomfortable or painful.

Full tags

Audio, MP3 players, Apple, iPod