iPod Hearing Loss Blog - Beware of too loud music

Hi

I got this mail from a friend and I would like to start a discussion about the issue that some people suffer from excessive iPod use.

He writes: Dear Joe. I am recovering slowly from my Actute Hearing Loss and Tinnitus that I got 2 months ago. I am using iPods from day one and always was listening very loud. Did not think about it - just liked the flash. At the end I was working out on an elyptical trainer for 40 minutes and listened to loud professive house music. Dann hat es Bum gemacht. Tinnitus, Hearing loss - the whole thing. Started too late with therapy. Now it gets slowly better - from really bad to well - could be worse. I sell all my iPods on eBay now - just keep the first one with the mechanical scroll wheel. Less thrilled about loud music right now - haha. I will tell you more soon. xxx

Hmm - I thought. There is a lawsuit that apple faces. There are some interesting articles and sites the fit to the topic iPod Tinnitus Hearing Loss.
Cnet
scotsman

sparkplug9
ScienceDaily

apple nike

Lets get this in perspective. I always thought everybody is sane enough not to play too loud. But it seems people get carried away and use it wrong. So what is your opinion? Lets discuss this a bit.

Some questions.

Is my friend just stupid? After all there is a clear warning in the manual: "Warning: Permanent hearing loss may occur if earphones or headphones are used at high volume," Apple states in the manual. "You can adapt over time to a higher volume of sound, which may sound normal but can be damaging to your hearing. Set your iPod's volume to a safe level before that happens."

Did you just think - hmm - they sell something obviously dangerous. And interestingly enough - in Europe iPods are sold with a lower sound cap. There is a French law that restricts excessive noise.

Loud music is fun - always was. But when you suffer the things my friend has you suddenly think different.

Datedickdad