iPod Alert!

There is new data to suggest the earbuds that ship with iPods, and which are pretty much ubiquitous amount iPod users, may be more damaging to your ears than the old "outside the ear" kind popularized with the Sony Walkman.

The earbuds commonly used by iPod listeners are placed directly into the ear and can boost the audio signal by as many as nine decibels -- comparable to the difference in sound intensity between an alarm clock and a lawn mower, Garstecki said. Yet, the earbuds do not always fit snugly in the ear, but often allow background noise to seep in, which causes listeners to crank up the volume...Eliminating iPod earbuds in favor of larger earmuff-style headphones as one of those protective measures may be an unattractive option for many style-conscious music lovers. Instead, Garstecki recommends adherence to the 60 percent/30 minute rule. Listeners should set their iPods and other MP3 players to sound levels that are no more than 60 percent of the maximum volume -- i.e. just over halfway between "off" and "maximum" volume -- and use their earbuds for no more than 30 minutes a day.

Personally, I usually leave the earbuds in their original packaging for my iPods (yes, I admit I am on my fifth one) as I find them uncomfortable to wear. I prefer the old kind and especially the new kind without the headband (I have a MONSTROUS melon) but that strap over your ears. Still, it is a reminder that Generation X may wind up being the first one asking their grandparents to speak up, instead of the other way around.