How Loud Is Your iPod??

The Daily Muse     


Welcome to the Daily Muse feature of Music Makes Sense!  This daily update brings you up to the minute news about music and music therapy as it relates to our professions, events and individual lives.  You can follow the daily entries by subscribing to Music Makes Sense on Twitter or by "Liking" the Facebook page for Music Makes Sense.  Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

As a follow-up to my post about MP3 players and hearing loss, there is research from 2009 that gives some specific information about safe listening levels.  


New IPod Listening Study Shows Surprising Behavior of Teens


Not only was it interesting to find out that peer pressure to turn down their music volume more likely causes  teens to turn UP their volume instead, but the article provides helpful information regarding what exactly is music that is too loud.  


According to the research you can listen to an iPod with stock earphones for 4.6 hours per day at 70 percent volume without incurring hearing damage.  You may also listen to 90 minutes per day at 80 percent volume and be okay.  


I think it is time to go and check our iPods!