The Bo Show

It’s Hard… to Hear

When I ask the question, “How high, and how long,” some of you may think I am referring to a typical Friday or Saturday night out on the town… drugs, and being up to the crack of dawn. But, what I’m talking about is something close to 173 million Americans can relate to – gay or straight.

How high and how long you listen to your ipod with your ear buds can determine your chance of preventing permanent hearing loss. Cory Portnuff, an audiologist at Colorado University says, “I honestly don’t believe most people understand they are putting themselves at risk” when it come to damaging their hearing.

We all do it. I do it everyday with Katy Perry’s latest Album. We find ourselves on the train, out for a jog, sun tanning or even mowing the lawn while increasing the volume to our favorite songs. We’ve all stood next to that guy who is blasting his music so loud that we’re able to enjoy his song at a natural level.

Portnuff’s research has found you can listen to your ipod for 90 minutes a day at 80% volume and still be safe when it comes to preventing hearing loss. It’s when you expose yourself to higher or full volume for at least five minutes a day, you start walking on dangerous deafening grounds. Portnuff says one day, “You may have to replace those headphones with hearing aids in the not-too-distant future.”

How fun would Madonna’s next concert be with a hearing aid? Forget her “Hard Candy,” it would be “Hard of Hearing.”