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Responsible Listening
Caution!: Avoid potential hearing loss.
Damage to hearing occurs when a person is exposed to loud sounds over time. The
risk of hearing loss increases as sound is played louder and for longer durations.
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds (including music) is the most common cause of
preventable hearing loss. Some scientific research suggests that using portable
audio devices, such as portable music players and cellular telephones, at high
volume settings for long durations may lead to permanent noise-induced hearing
loss. This includes the use of headphones (including headsets, earbuds, and
Bluetooth or other wireless devices). Exposure to very loud sound has also been
associated in some studies with tinnitus (a ringing in the ear), hypersensitivity to
sound and distorted hearing.
Individual susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss and potential hearing problem
varies. Additionally, the amount of sound produced by a portable audio device varies
depending on the nature of the sound, the device settings, and the headphones that
are used. As a result, there is no single volume setting that is appropriate for
everyone or for every combination of sound, settings and equipment.
You should follow some commonsense recommendations when using any portable
audio device:
• Set the volume in a quiet environment and select the lowest volume at which you
can hear adequately.
• When using headphones, turn the volume down if you cannot hear the people
speaking near you or if the person sitting next to you can hear what you are
listening to.
• Do not turn the volume up to block out noisy surroundings. If you choose to listen
to your portable device in a noisy environment, you noise-cancelling headphones
to block out background environmental noise. By blocking background
environment noise, noise cancelling headphones should allow you to hear the
music at lower volumes than when using earbuds.
• Limit the amount of time you listen. As the volume increases, less time is required
before you hearing could be affected.
• Avoid using headphones after exposure to extremely loud noises, such as rock
concerts, that might cause temporary hearing loss. Temporary hearing loss might
cause unsafe volumes to sound normal.