iPods can cause hearing loss

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New Dellhi: The cool iPod is not so cool after all.

Even as a whole new generation is going gaga over this tiny little thing, medical experts have dropped a bombshell, suggesting that iPod use can lead to ear damage.

A man in Louisiana recently filed a lawsuit against Apple Computers, claiming that the iPod can cause hearing loss.

The alarmist reports have, however, failed to dishearten the young users.

"I love my iPod which I have been carrying for a year, the simple reason being that I can store as many songs as I want," an iPod listener says.

"I basically like the iPod simply because of the fact that it is portable," says another.

"It is a handy device and you can listen to music anywhere and anytime in the iPod," another iPod listener adds.

The iPod is a brand of portable digital media player designed and marketed by Apple Computer. Devices in the iPod family provide a simple user interface designed around a central scroll wheel (with the exception of the iPod shuffle).

The standard iPod model stores media on a built-in hard drive, while the smaller iPod Shuffle and iPod nana use flash memory.

Like most digital auto players, an iPod can serve as an external data storage device when connected to a computer.

The tiny IPod nana is also a powerhouse of features. It can hold up to 1,000 songs and 2,5000 pictures, has a bright 1.5-inch color LCD display and a battery life of 14 hours.

However, the best thing about an iPod is that it is light and easy to carry. It is also hailed to be the 'coolest gadget to flaunt'.

Chances are rare of those who wouldn’t be lured by the delightful little gadget. But the coin has two faces and so does iPod.

Medical experts, however, don't think that it's the coolest gadget to flaunt.

"Loud music comes in the category of impulse voice, any impulse voice like loud music above 120 decibels can damage the hair cells in the inner cell organ. Damage of the hair cells can lead to irreversible hearing damage and a disease called Tinnitus, which the patient will complain of," Dr R K Bhardwaj, ENT specialist at Sitaram Bhartia Hospita, says.

CD players and walkmans can also have similar effects, but MP3 players like the iPod pose more danger.

There is no need to change a CD or a tape in case of iPods and MP3 players. This feature of the gadgets only worsens things.

And it becomes irresistible to keep listening to music in the iPod. The ears get affected in the process, leading to hearing loss.

So it may only seem right to opt for headphones instead of listening to music if you are a music freak. Besides if you want to listen to songs in an iPod, you should turn down the volume and limit your listening time.

Hearing loss calls for hearing aids, which cost a lot more than iPods. So it is advisable to visit an ear specialist in the initial stage if you experience any hearing problem.

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