Sometimes, silence can be loud. When the lack of noise is overwhelming, our iPods bring us solace. Music helps drown out crazy thoughts, forget our worries or get in the zone for essay writing.

Jonathan Plaut, a sophomore sport management major, regularly uses his iPod. ‘I listen to it every day, usually when I’m working out or when I am in my room,’ he said.

Earbud-toting students run rampant on campus, bringing their iPods on the bus, to the gym and en route to class, just to name a few. What were once daily moments of ambient sounds are now filled with personal playlists of our favorite tunes, carefully crafted to fit the occasion.

‘I usually listen to rock or rap depending on what I want for the day,’ Plaut said.

Unfortunately, our tuneful habit may lead to hearing loss far before we become grandparents.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Florida found that 25 percent of the college students tested experienced measurable hearing loss. Seven percent of the students had hearing loss of 25 decibels or more, which is clinically diagnosed as mild hearing loss. The research, published this month in the International Journal of Audiology, suggested hearing loss could be attributed to the widespread use of MP3 players.

The delicate nature of our hearing is often forgotten, especially compared to our sense of sight. When we go outside on a sunny summer day, we wear sunglasses. Every kindergartner knows taking a wide-eyed gander at the sun can result in some serious damage, maybe even resulting in a visionless, permanent sunglass-wearing existence if you stare up long enough.

Why don’t we take our hearing as seriously as our vision? Our ears endure the brunt of booming bass lines and blaring guitar solos on a regular basis. But to suggest we stop listening to our iPods entirely would be ludicrous — if I had to tolerate the sound of my feet pounding the treadmill conveyor belt at the gym, three miles would feel like 30. And on Monday mornings,when the last thing I want to hear on the bus is a freshman’s Smirnoff escapades from the weekend, the iPod is my saving grace from South Campus to College Place.

The key is to remember we not only control what song plays on our iPod, but also the volume at which we play it. This may seem obvious, but whenever I can make out every word of the song my fellow bus riders are listening to, I question if they know of the iPod’s user-control capabilities. Music is meant to complement the sounds of the outside world, not drown out every noise and thought swirling around the bus.

Some SU students do listen to music more carefully than others. David Deacon, a doctoral student studying American history, owns an iPod, but is cautious about his music-listening behaviors.

‘I listen to it mostly in the car and through speakers at home and working in the library. I am uncomfortable wearing it in public. I’m strange, but don’t like to be disconnected from my surroundings,’ Deacon said. ‘I keep the volume at a low level, concerned about losing my hearing.’

Plaut has similar considerations. ‘I do think about the effect (of loud volume), and I make sure I don’t have it on too loudly so it doesn’t affect my hearing down the road.’

If you choose to rock out, go for it. But keep this is mind:If you listen to music too loudly now, you may be rocking a hearing aid before you know it.

Alicia Smith is a graduate student in the magazine, newspaper and online journalism program at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Her column appears every Thursday, and she can be reached at acsmit05@syr.edu.

Published on March 23, 2011 at 12:00 pm