MP3 and iPod players played at high volume for sustained amounts of time can significantly damage hearing. The volume should never be played to override surrounding noise. You can invest in custom fitted earplugs instead in order to protect your hearing from Tinnitus or long-term acoustic trauma. According to experts, the loudness of the MP3 has been measured to be at 120dB and the iPod should be kept at 2/3 of its volume or 90dB. The hairs in the inner ear are traumatized, shocked and damaged beyond repair with repeated excessive levels of high intensity bass low frequency (bass music). The goal is to protect your hearing not to prevent you from listening to your favorite tunes.

When rats were exposed to continuous voodoo drum beats, they became disoriented and were unable to find food in a maze. Autopsy results showed abnormal structures in the brain cells. Seeds from plants who 'listened to' classical music produced stronger, larger and healthier plants. Why is this important? Low frequency, high intensity music causes the protoplasm within cells to vibrate. Eggs left on the stage floor during a rock concert were 'hard-boiled' before the concert was half-way over. It makes one wonder what happens to the cells within the brains of our children. Loud sustained bass music excites the brain. Add this to the frenzied hype of rock concerts and hormones are released in the brain that are similar to those produced by some drugs. The hormones also mask the pain sensations produced at 110-120dB. This pleasurable feeling gets connected to the music causing a music addiction.

Music is also helpful at the right volume and frequencies. There is a reason that classical or jazz music is played in restaurants. People eat slower and food is digested better without weight gain according to research. Students' brains can be energized and learn faster when music at 8000hertz is played. Babies are soothed by Mozart. For years the advice to children has been to never put anything larger than their elbows in their ears. It's about time to add a caveat to that warning because certain kinds of music can be harmful to the health of your children, their learning and even to your grandchildren.