I-Pods and M-P-3-players let people take their music with them wherever they go, but some Iowans are pumping up the volume to dangerous levels. Doctor Marlan Hansen, an otolaryngologist at University Hospitals in Iowa City, says we need to resist the urge to crank up songs we love.

Dr. Hansen says if someone sitting next to you can hear what you’re listening too, it’s probably too loud. He says a good rule of thumb may be just never to turn the volume setting past five. With spring’s arrival, many Iowans are cutting their grass or working on home improvement and landscaping projects. Hansen says people need to get into the habit of wearing hearing protection when they’re tackling noisy chores.

Hansen says anything over 85 decibels, if listened to for a few hours a day, can cause significant hearing loss. That’s anything above a standard vacuum cleaner. He says hearing protection is recommended for most lawn mowers, chain saws and power tools, even hammers. Besides using hearing protection, Hansen says hearing screenings are critical to preserving a person’s sense of sound.

If you notice difficulty in understanding what people are saying or feel your ability to hear is slipping, or experience a ringing in your ears, get in for an evaluation. April 26th is International Noise Awareness Day. Noise is a leading cause of hearing loss in the 28-million people with impaired hearing in the U.S.