Hearing loss may come early for some college students who listen to music constantly while walking around campus.

Small ear plugs that accompany iPods and other mp3 players may cause more damage to listener’s ears than people are aware of.

“The ear is so sensitive it can measure a vibration the width of the hydrogen molecule, and I’m watching this guy’s windows vibrate [at a stop light],” said Joseph Smaldino, professor of audiology.

Hearing loss

Small ear buds are one reason the devices are under scrutiny for hearing loss.

Ear buds are much closer to the ear drum than traditional over-the-ear headphones are. Volume levels are also a reason for concern that coincides with the close proximity of the ear buds to the ear drum.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a hearing safety setting of no more than an average of 90 decibels a day for a period of eight hours.

“Even at 85 decibels, you may not experience it that day, that week or that year, [but] if you continue listening to noise at that level you could have [hearing] damage over time,” Smaldino said.

In cumulative noise exposure, everything counts.

Types of hearing loss range from conductive to temporary to permanent.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Conductive hearing loss makes it harder to hear faint sounds due to a reduction in sound level within the ears. Conductive hearing loss isn’t necessarily permanent and can often be medically or surgically corrected.

“The classic way of telling is when you have ringing in your ears,” Smaldino said. “It’s a very common outcome of exposure to too loud of music.”

The ringing could be very subtle and when people hear it they should be cautious because something in their ears and hearing may have changed, Smaldino said.

Cranking a favorite song can, over time, affect the listener’s hearing and they may be none the wiser.

“You tend to have less hearing loss listening to something you like versus something that’s just scrutiny,” Smaldino said.