Tess Krukow of San Luis Obispo listens to her 4-gigabyte iPod Mini when she goes grocery shopping and when she works out at Kennedy Club Fitness in Arroyo Grande.

“I can't work out unless I have it,” Krukow said.

She also listens to her iPod in the car on road trips, which can take several hours.

Matt Philley of Nipomo listens to his 80-gigabyte iPod Classic at least three or four hours a day. Sometimes he cranks it up to the highest volume, depending on his mood.

The listening habits of people like Krukow and Philley are of interest to Jeff Danhauer, chair and professor of audiology at University of California, Santa Barbara, who also works as an audiologist in Lompoc.

He and Carole Johnson, professor in the department of communication disorders at Auburn University in Alabama, and their undergrad and graduate students, co-authored a study called “Survey of College Students on iPod Use and Hearing Health.” The team surveyed college students online through the social networking Web site Facebook, and through paper and pencil questionnaires at UCSB.

According to the study, most participants didn't listen to their music players more than one or two hours a day total. On a scale of loudness from 1 to 10, they listened at a range of 7 to 8.

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“If that's the case, they're probably doing OK, and the iPod's probably not causing hearing loss at that point,” Danhauer said.

Danhauer said iPods and other personal listening devices may have gotten a bad rap when it comes to how badly they affect hearing loss.

However, there was a small part of the population in the study, about 8 percent, that was at higher risk for noise-induced hearing loss. These students listen at a maximum volume, listen longer than one or two hours at a time, and turn up the music when their favorite song comes on.

Additional factors that can increase hearing loss include turning up the music in a noisy background and while exercising, said Danhauer.

According to Danhauer, the “60-60 rule” may be a good guide. The rule says not to listen to music at more than 60 percent volume for more than 60 minutes a day. Danhauer said this might be too conservative, and a “70-70 rule” could be done.

The kind of earphone or earbud you use affects what you can get away with. Apple earbuds don't block sound as well as commercial add-on earpieces, according to Danhauer.

“Some of these devices, when worn appropriately and fitted appropriately, may cause the listener to lower the volume on the iPod,” Danhauer said, which can help minimize hearing loss.

The iPod also has a function that will limit how loud it gets, Danhauer said. More information is available at the Apple Web site, www.apple.com.

There are several easy ways to reduce the likelihood of hearing loss caused by personal listening devices, Danhauer said. You can reduce the amount of time you listen to them, and reduce the volume.

Danhauer said a good test of whether the earbud enhancers are effective is by listening to the device with your normal earbuds, then putting on the enhancers. If the music now sounds too loud and you want to turn down the volume, and the music still sounds rich when you turn it down, it's probably a good device.

You can test if your iPod is too loud by seeing whether someone else can hear the sound from your earbuds from a distance. That's a bad sign, Danhauer said.

Danhauer recommended that most people have a hearing test if they haven't had one already, and have another one done every few years or if they change work environments or suspect hearing loss. If they already have hearing losses, Danhauer recommends repeated hearing tests every year or two to make sure it doesn't get worse.

Danhauer said personal listening devices like iPods, when used with caution, shouldn't cause any hearing loss.

“When use conscientiously, they should be fine,” he said. “People use them for relaxation, for not bothering people with their music, to just get away Š It's only for that small population that are risk takers that listen to a long period of time at loud levels that it's a risk.”

SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS:

Signs you might have suffered noise-related hearing loss:

You often say “What?” or “Huh?” or ask people to repeat themselves.

You often turn up the television or radio.

You notice that people have to make several attempts to get your attention.

You experience ringing in your ears, or tinnitus, which is a symptom, not a cause, and can be associated with other conditions, as well.

- Source: Jeff Danhauer, chair and professor of audiology at UCSB and Lompoc audiologist