i Pods Make You Deaf

[Dr. Shane]

ipods come with a warning that if operated on high volume they can cause hearing damage. Doctors say they shouldn't be used above between 1/2 and 2/3 of the volume available.

So why don't they make these things so the volume can't go above 90 decibles unless the user pushes the button that says "idiot"? That way they would only make idiots go deaf.

[cricket]

It is only those that are intelligence impaired that will listen at those levels anyway.

[Bravus]

...except that when you're young, you both think you're going to live forever and can't imagine being as ancient as 25, so future consequences just don't seem to have any reality. It's easy for us to judge from the plateau of our more mature perspectives.

Encouraging the kids to turn their players down to 50-60% of their volume capacity, giving them noise-cancelling headphones so they don't have to crank the volume to drown out other noise and suggesting that they limit their use to a couple of hours a day are all workable strategies for protecting their hearing (and ours - I do this with my own player when I use it).

[cricket]

Another workable strategy is to have the children visit a nursing home and try to talk with some hearing impaired people. What a chore that is!

Not all young people are quite as naïve as you've suggested. Some are quite reasonable and capable of abstract thought.

[Pockey]

I'm a little worried now. I crank my ipod up near full volume all the time. I think I must've lost some hearing during my yoot.

[Halfstep Denise]

I love your idea, Shane!

Both of my parents worked in noisy places and did not wear ear protection. My mom is now wearing hearing aids and my dad is needing the volume up on things, but not yet ready for hearing aids.

Halfstep Denise