Earbuds and Hearing Loss?

Do you use "earbuds"? I repeat, DO YOU USE "EARBUDS"?

Two pages into the October 2008 issue of neatoday, I spied a half-page message stating "Nearly one in eight children suffers from noise-induced hearing loss."

It was just last summer that I was told my hearing loss in one ear was total and irreversible. While the causes will never be known, my doctors agreed that it probably wasn't due to my use of headphones with loud music. You see, my good ear is perfect. If listening to loud music with headphones were a major factor in my hearing loss, then both ears should have been effected.

However, I think earbuds will be a major factor in future studies of increased hearing loss among today's youth. When earbuds first became popular, I performed a test that I hope makes my point. My "test" began as I increased the volume to an edge-of-comfort level using headphones. I turned off my Sony Walkman, unplugged the headphones and replaced them with the latest technology now referred to as earbuds. I positioned the earbuds comfortably in both ears and turned on the Walkman. Remember, I had set the volume to be right on the "edge of comfort" level using headphones. As I powered up the Walkman, the resulting jolt of sound surprised me. My first thought was, "Ouch!"

I think future research on the history of hearing will find a strong correlation between the invention and use of earbuds and increased noise-induced hearing loss in today's population. Maybe today's youth would pay more attention to my "Turn Down the Volume" message if it were put to music. That's exactly what one rapper has done below:

As for me, I have stopped teaching music, and listen to nothing but talk radio these days. If you still don't think protecting your hearing is a big deal, imagine the difference only hearing with one ear can have on the rest of your life. Imagine never again hearing music in stereo, or having no ability to identify the position of a sound in space, because you've lost your stereophonic sense that identifies the location of a sound relative to your own position in space.

I can't tell you how many times an ambulance or police siren has seemingly come out of nowhere as my eyes scanned 360 degrees trying to find the source of the wail that was rushing toward me. In the recent wind storm, my ears consistently tricked me. As limbs and trees fell, I had to use my eyes to identify the crashing objects, as I've lost my ability to pinpoint sounds around me. Everytime I sleep on my good ear, I'm in greater danger of not hearing the baby crying, the smoke alarm, a neighbor ringing the doorbell, or the phone ringing.

Imagine losing your hearing, then keep it from happening by protecting the hearing you still have.

IF 2008

Tonight I attended the 2008 Idea Festival Awards Banquet in Louisville, Kentucky.  While my school did not win the Student Technology Leadership Award for our student-created school-based web site, another local school was honored for the creation of a high school help desk.  Sharon Shrout, Director of Computer Education Support for Jefferson County Public Schools, was awarded the Women in Technology award for integrating technology into teaching. The Education Award went to JCPS Project Science Math and the Right Technology (SMART) for helping teenage mothers excel in math, science and computer science courses.

Read more about the 3rd annual Idea Festival knows as IF 2008.

Tomorrow is Sherriann's birthday.  We will spend the early part of Saturday with my brother Alan and his family in Frankfort before traveling to Lexington for the Kentucky Wildcats versus Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football game.  Alan's daughter will babysit Isabel.  Guess I'll be one of the few that cheer for WKU, as I earned my first Masters degree at the Bowling Green campus over 10 years ago.

While I was at IF 2008, Sherriann and Isabel went on a huge shopping spree at the outlet malls in southern Indiana with Nicole and Kayla.  I haven't had time to see all the new clothes Isabel bought, but I'm sure they are all very cute.

Don't forget to wish Sherriann a Happy Birthday.

The Storm is Passing Over

When I taught Choral music, my students were always thrilled to perform the Moses Hogan arrangement of "The Storm is Passing Over."  I'd prefer teaching music, with my one remaining good ear, rather than enduring a repeat of the wind storm that rolled through Kentucky courtesy of Hurricane Ike. The Bluegrass State found over half of its 120 counties with power outages, down power lines, and thousands of toppled trees after sustained winds gusting to 75 mph roared through the Ohio valley on September 14th.

Our home was one of the 301,000 without electricity for a week in the Louisville area. Schools in southern Indiana and Kentucky, including the large Jefferson County Public Schools, cancelled classes from the 15th through 19th due to the lack of electricity.  A gym roof was ripped from one of the local high schools, and a 10-year old was killed by a falling limb as the unexpected winds quickly surpassed the forecasted 30-40mph that had led to a wind advisory being announced for the Louisville area. 

After the storm passed and power was restored to most neighborhoods, the local news announced that over 100 people had been rushed to area hospitals throughout the week for carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper usage of generators.  One tragic story involved a newly-rented property.  In that case, the owner had loaned a generator to his new renters.  When the renters improperly placed the generator in the home, the entire family was overcome by the build-up of carbon monoxide. The property owner, who decided to check on the family, grieved at finding the family deceased.

Additional loss of life and property were some of the stories lost behind the headlines of the Ryder Cup that captured the national spotlight after the storm.   While Governor Steve Beshear called the National Guard to assist with cleanup, comments on local radio expressed concern that some of these guard members were actually directing traffic flow for Ryder cup attendees at Valhalla Golf Course. Others were busy directing people to the shuttles lining the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center to carry attendees to the golf course.

On radio, many people complained far too much, considering how minor the problems in the Commonwealth when compared to the likes of Galveston Island and the deep south. One caller to WHAS 840 AM call Louisville "a war-zone" only to be berated by the on-air host.  The caller most have missed Headline News and The Weather Channel coverage of the tragedies of the deep south as Hurricane Ike wiped coastal Texas off the map.

As for now, the Ryder cup has left town, and we are playing catch-up both at home and work.  Thank goodness Sherri and I were able to live comfortably with a gas stove and gas water heater.  Isabel slept soundly with the windows open each night and temperatures in the upper 50's and low 60's.  Although ice was hard to come by, I was able to transport the contents of our deep freezer to my dad's home before everything was lost.  It was a learning experience.  We got closer to our neighbors, and met many people who would have otherwise remained glued to their television sets, if power had not been lost.

As for those who truly experienced hardship over the last few days, our prayers go out to those truly struggling to simply make ends meet after this late summer storm.

Web 2.0 graph

An real tech-wiz I know named Brent Schlenker, sent me this great graphic that details the variety of Web 2.0 technologies.

This image was originally posted on Julian's blog. Click the image for the big version.

If you'd like to know more about Web 2.0 technologies, check out my TrackStar lesson, Web 2.0 Tools for the 21st Century Classroom. I'll continue updating this track as I find ever-improved links. Feel free to comment to me with links that can improve this lesson.

Till next time. Enjoy.