A small study conducted by the University of Florida, which was published in the International Journal of Audiology, found that one-fourth of the college students surveyed had hearing loss of at least 15 decibels.

That is not enough to warrant the use of a hearing aid, but the students’ learning could be affected. IPod and MP3 headphones are among the top culprits.

Hearing loss occurs when the delicate hairs that coat the inner ear are damaged and can no longer convert air vibrations into electrical signals that the brain interprets as sound. The amount of damage depends on the intensity and duration of the sound.

Dr. Richard Gresham P.C., president of Shoals Hearing Clinic, asserts that iPod ear buds in particular can cause a great deal of damage.

“Ear buds are positioned closer to the eardrum than the Walkman earphones and other earphone devices and therefore are capable of delivering greater volume levels to the ear,” said Gresham. “There was leakage of sound when using the older types of earphones and the rule was if someone could hear your music at a distance of three feet then you could be experiencing dangerous levels of sound. We can’t use these rules with the ear bud because there is minimal leakage.”

The iPod is capable of cranking out 120 decibels of sound at full volume. That is the equivalent of a jet plane taking off right on top of the eardrum. Listening to a sound at this volume for more than five minutes will begin to cause permanent hearing loss. According to Gresham, around 60 decibels (or about two-thirds of maximum volume) is a safe amount for the ear.

However, the University of Florida study may not apply as well here at UNA. Both Adam Aycock and McKenzie Britnell are smart about how they listen to music.

“I usually leave it locked to 60 percent volume,” said Aycock, a psychology major who mostly listens to music when he’s working out. “Max volume doesn’t get along well with my ears. I like enough volume to mask other sounds around me-just enough to keep from being distracted.”

Britnell, a Spanish and secondary education double major, feels the same way-for the most part.

“I keep it at a comfortable level unless it’s a high-intensity song,” said Britnell. “Then I’ll crank it up a bit. Some songs just deserve a volume increase. Like a good rap or rock song … the volume better change some.”

While excessive volume may not be a problem for Britnell or Aycock, it is highly likely that some students are listening to their music way too loud, way too often. A USA Today article discussing iPods’ effect on hearing recommends paying extra for some noise-cancelling earphones, and Gresham agrees.

“Listeners tend to decrease the volume with sound-isolating ear buds or noise-canceling headphones,” said Gresham.

It may be a little extra money, but it could be an investment that keeps you and your ears rockin’.