Writing Feature Articles - Step 1 - Lesson 1 | Page 84

Writing Feature Articles - Lesson
Writing Feature Articles - Handout . a

Intermediate

Name: ________________________________________ Date: ___________________

. a: Feature Articles Packet

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of

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“To Hear or Not to Hear...” continued
volume or more. Band member Dan Gorman says, “ I guess I’m listening to it like 8-9/10 of the way up
which probably isn’t great but that’s what I like to do.’’
60 -60 to the rescue
Teens can do the right thing but still have fun. One solution Dean Garstecki suggests
is the “60 percent/60 minute rule.” This means that people use their MP3 players
for no more than about an hour a day and at 60 percent of maximum volume. "If
music listeners are willing to turn the volume down further still and use different
headphones, they can increase the amount of time that they can safely listen,"
Garstecki added.

Another way to save teen’s hearing is to use sensible headphones instead of the tiny earbuds
that everyone likes so much. Even though headphones are less popular with the fashionconscious because they are much more visible, the headphone solution is a safer one.
What about parents?
A study in the Pediatrics journal found that only 14% of teens use ear protection and few live by the
60/60 rule. Some teens may need help to follow these guidelines. Parents CAN help by following these
simple steps:
o
o
o
o

Parents can speak to their child about the damage MP3 players can cause.
If nothing works, parents can remove the MP3 player from their child for a while.
Parents can put a combination on the player and only let their child use it when they are given
permission.
Parents can also put a combination on the player to prevent the volume from going above a
certain level.

Even though some of these suggestions might cause ?ghts, it is worth the trouble to help protect teens
from hearing damage in the future.
Teens can save themselves
Teens and other MP3 player listeners can still save themselves. They can still have fun while being
cautious at the same time. Teens should think about the ways they can save their hearing. It is not so
hard to start using headphones that have hearing protection. It is not so hard to lower the volume. If
they don’t, they won’t need their players in the future. They won’t be able to hear the music anyway.

JT. “To Hear or Not to Hear.” Prof. P’s Of?ce.

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