Ear buds and headphones have become increasingly common, but did you know that these listening devices could reach up to 110 decibels? The National Institutes of Health report that this level of sound is equivalent to being at a rock concert.

In the face of the growing trend of personal listening devices such as iPods, Medline, a service of the National Institutes of Health recommend turning down the volume and reducing the amount of time spent listening to such devices.

But what exactly are the consequences if we decide not to practice moderation with our mp3 player, phone, or iPod? According to Medline, when we repeatedly listen to high-volume personal devices, we greatly increase the risk of permanent hearing loss — specifically in our capacity to hear high-pitch noises. Such hearing damage is becoming increasingly common, especially in the younger generation.

A growing trend

ABC News reports that over the past two decades, there has been a 30 percent increase in hearing loss among teenagers. The article supports Medline’s findings that the most common kind of hearing loss is high-pitch loss.

Poor hearing reduces educational potential, which means that affected teenagers will struggle academically. Teenagers who listen to their personal devices at high volumes are recommended to check whether the person next to them can hear the audio as well. If they can, the music is probably too loud.

Tinnitus rates increase

Tinnitus is generally defined as a sustained and continuous high-pitched noise in the ear (sometimes a rhythmic noise), usually caused by physical damage to the cochlea. It is regarded as a form of hearing loss because the noise often causes the person to block out other sounds in the environment.

The American Osteopathic Association identified that one in five teenagers suffers from some sort of hearing loss, and about 40 percent of those affected suffer from tinnitus. Tinnitus can develop naturally as one gets older, but it is not supposed to be affecting people this young, the association concluded. The American Tinnitus Association informs us that nearly 12 million Americans suffer from tinnitus. Most of those affected are over 40, but the group also recognizes the burgeoning number of teenagers who are developing symptoms.

William Shatner talked about his tinnitus on YouTube in an effort to raise awareness.

Therapy to treat tinnitus

Though there is no cure, tinnitus’ symptoms can be treated in various ways. One way is to develop good habits that reduce the intensity of tinnitus. According to the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center, good habits include but are not limited to the following:

•Reduce exposure to extremely loud noise
•Avoid total silence
•Decrease salt intake
•Monitor one’s blood pressure
•Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine
•Exercise
•Reduce fatigue
•Manage stress
•Educate yourself

Part of developing the first habit includes taking moderation seriously when it comes to personal listening devices. Researchers at the university recommend keeping music at 60 decibels (the level of regular restaurant conversation), and listening no longer than 60 minutes a day. This is called the 60/60 rule.

In addition to developing these habits, cutting-edge acoustic therapy has been proven effective for thousands of patients with tinnitus. The therapy involves listening to certain frequencies or even specially designed musical scores that can re-habituate the ear to focus on non-disruptive frequencies. However, these therapies do not always succeed by themselves. Sometimes, they work more effectively when paired with other methods such as stress management.

Studies continually find that these hearing loss and tinnitus are real threats and should be taken seriously by everyone, especially young children and teenagers.