AP: Headphones May Worsen Hearing Loss

By MARTHA IRVINE, AP National Writer Mon Sep 12, 8:49 PM ET

CHICAGO - Researchers fear the growing popularity of portable music players and other items that attach directly to the ears — including cell phones — is contributing to hearing loss in younger people.

"It's a different level of use than we've seen in the past," says Robert Novak, director of clinical education in audiology at Purdue University in Indiana. "It's becoming more of a full-day listening experience, as opposed to just when you're jogging."

Increasingly, Novak says he's seeing too many young people with "older ears on younger bodies" — a trend that's been building since the portable Walkman made its debut a few decades back.

I was never comfortable wearing headphones, turning up, and zoning out. I pride myself on being able to enjoy music or talk radio at the lowest volume necessary. The less I impose on others, the more I enjoy.

Logistically speaking, a Walkman seldom stayed clipped to my belt when I walked. The phones themselves required such frequent adjustment as to defeat the true reason for wearing a Walkman/Discman/iPod: to look cool.