New study shows iPods can cause temporary hearing loss

June 23: A new study has shown that listening to an MP3 player for an hour can have a temporary impact on hearing sensitivity, which could eventually lead to long-term damage.

The study showed that iPod earbuds can release 100.0 to 110.5 decibels of sound, which is well above the 75 decibel threshold for risk of noise-induced hearing loss. This along with the music pumping directly into the ear canal causes damage by over-stimulating "hair cells" in the inner ear.

Experts suggest that intensive music exposure does not permanently affect hearing loss because it is limited to 5 or 10 years in a lifetime; while others speculate that the iPod generation is not old enough for long-term effects to show up yet.

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