Many students walk around campus listening to music on headphones, ear buds, etc. But how many are aware of the impact that these things can have?

Like any other part of the human body, too much use can cause damage. Repeated exposure to any loud noise, over time, can cause hearing loss.

Although, headphones may not always be the cause of hearing loss, or damaged, playing music too loud while using headphone can potentially be a problem.

Robert Beiny, the director of audiologist the Hearing Healthcare Practice, said in an online article that research has shown that people listen to music at levels that are too high for the human ear. Some people may not even be aware that their music is too loud or that human ears cannot handle high volumes for an extended amount of time.

The simplest rule is that if others around you can hear your music, then it is probably too loud.

Marc-Anthony McMillon, a junior marketing major, said he’s always listened to loud music. He noticed a change in his hearing since he was a child. He would often ask people to repeat what they say because he could not hear them.

“When I was younger, my hearing went bad. Now, I listen to music at a constant level, “McMillon said.

Any level above 90 decibels can cause long-term damage to hearing.  Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, said that headphones could get too as loud as 110 decibels.

There are so many people who are not aware of the damage that can be caused by loud music. Beiny also said listening to loud music over a long time will gradually weaken the structures in the ear.

This can cause conditions such as ringing (tinnitus) or muffled hearing. Listening to music at high volumes through headphones may also cause life-long hearing loss.

Chelsey Cobb, a junior pharmacy major, said she has to turn down her volume when she’s listening to her music on her Dr. Dre Beats. Cobb said she can definatly notice the diffrence.Cobb says her iPhone headphones are better for softer tone songs.

“My iPhone headphones are fine. Only my Beats give me a headache. The volumes differ, I think, because the Beats cover my entire ear,” said Cobb. Whereas, the iPhones are smaller so less sound can come from them…listening to loud music on my headphones hurt my ear drums. It sucks because I like songs with bass,”Cobb said. Dr. James E. Foy, DO, an osteopathic pediatrician from Vallejo California, said in an online article that as a rule of thumb, you should only use music devices at levels up to 60 percent of its maximum volume for a total of 60 minutes a day.

The louder the volume, the shorter the duration should be.

When listening to music, the risk of damaged hearing can depend on how loud the music is, headphone use, and how long or how often you are exposed to loud music.