•Do not turn the volume up to block out noisy surroundings. If you choose to listen to your device in a noisy environment, use noise-cancelling headphones to block out background noise. By blocking background noise, noise-cancelling headphones should allow you to hear the music at lower volumes than when using earbuds.

•Limit the amount of time you listen. As the volume increases, less time is required before your hearing could be affected.

•Avoid using headphones after exposure to extremely loud noises, such as rock concerts, that might cause temporary hearing loss. Temporary hearing loss might cause unsafe volumes to sound normal.

•Do not listen at any volume that causes you discomfort. If you experience ringing in your ears, if speech sounds muffled, or experience any temporary hearing difficulty after listening to your portable audio device, discontinue use and consult your doctor.

You can obtain additional information on this subject from the following sources:

American Academy of Audiology Phone: (800) 222-2336 or 703-790-8466 Email: infoaud@audiology.org

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