I know PamT has posted about this in the past but I cannot find her post in the archives.

If you don't have the volume high, are these still unsafe? They're so much more comfortable than headphones.... My six and ten year olds would be using them on occasion, but not regularly. But if they're just horrible to your ear health I'll get them headphones. Any ideas? I cannot recall Pam's exact post.

By Cocoabutter on Thursday, December 7, 2006 - 10:36 am:

I found this article. They are probably safe, but as long as the volume is not more than 60% of the maximum.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/18590/hearing_loss_and_ear_buds.html

By Kaye on Thursday, December 7, 2006 - 10:37 am:

On the ipods you can set the volume setting via the computer. My hubby did it, so I don't know how, but there is a spot when charging it that you can set the maximum amount. So it takes it out of the kids hands to remember to not keep it so loud!

By Kate on Thursday, December 7, 2006 - 10:56 am:

Hmmmm....these would be used with portable dvd players, so it would be movies they are listening to, not music. I wonder if that makes any difference.

By Kaye on Thursday, December 7, 2006 - 11:06 am:

I think the key here is this...with the ear buds you are putting them very close to your ear drum, and blasting sound at it. If they are too loud, they will damage their hearing. So if you use them for movies, YOU need to set the volume. With the other headphones a lot of the noise escapes, so it doesn't get as loud in their ear, plus you can hear it if it is too loud. If they have ear buds in and you can hear it, they the volume is WAY too loud.