101
Safety
Caution: Avoid potential hearing loss.
Prolongedexposuretoloudsounds(includingmusic)isthemostcommoncauseof
preventablehearingloss.Somescientificresearchsuggeststhatusingportableaudio
devices,suchasportablemusicplayersandcellulartelephones,athighvolumesettings
forlongdurationsmayleadtopermanentnoise-inducedhearingloss.Thisincludes
theuseofheadphones(includingheadsets,earbudsandBluetooth®orotherwireless
devices).Exposuretoveryloudsoundhasalsobeenassociatedinsomestudieswith
tinnitus(aringingintheear),hypersensitivitytosoundanddistortedhearing.Individual
susceptibilitytonoise-inducedhearinglossandotherpotentialhearingproblemsvaries.
Theamountofsoundproducedbyaportableaudiodevicevariesdependingonthe
natureofthesound,thedevice,thedevicesettingsandtheheadphones.Youshould
followsomecommonsenserecommendationswhenusinganyportableaudiodevice:
• Setthevolumeinaquietenvironmentandselectthelowestvolumeatwhichyoucan
hearadequately.
• Whenusingheadphones,turnthevolumedownifyoucannothearthepeople
speakingnearyouorifthepersonsittingnexttoyoucanhearwhatyouarelistening
to.
• Donotturnthevolumeuptoblockoutnoisysurroundings.Ifyouchoosetolisten
toyourportabledeviceinanoisyenvironment,usenoise-cancellingheadphonesto
blockoutbackgroundenvironmentalnoise.
• Limittheamountoftimeyoulisten.Asthevolumeincreases,lesstimeisrequired
beforeyourhearingcouldbeaffected.
• Avoidusingheadphonesafterexposuretoextremelyloudnoises,suchasrock
concerts,thatmightcausetemporaryhearingloss.Temporaryhearinglossmight
causeunsafevolumestosoundnormal.
• Donotlistenatanyvolumethatcausesyoudiscomfort.Ifyouexperienceringingin
yourears,hearmuffledspeechorexperienceanytemporaryhearingdifficultyafter
listeningtoyourportableaudiodevice,discontinueuseandconsultyourdoctor.