Portable music players are great devices. But did you know they can produce sound loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss? Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is steadily growing amongst young adults. NIHL results from loud and prolonged exposure to noise greater than 85 decibels. The damage is permanent, but often goes ignored because it is painless and occurs gradually over time, before people notice they are having hearing difficulties. Individual MP3 players, and the ones used by cell phones, can easily reach between 100 and 115 decibels. This means permanent damage to your hearing begins after only a few minutes. When using these devices, turn down the volume and protect your hearing.