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Doctor Says Don't Raise Volume Level Past 75

By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - New York City is putting together a quarter-million-dollar social media campaign warning teens about the health risks of listening to loud music through their headphones. A local expert gives us an "earful" about that.

New York City's health department wants to warn teens about possible hearing loss when the volume is too loud while listening to their music on the go.
This is a good message to send, according to Dr. Gregory Artz with Jefferson University Hospital.

"Young people think they're invincible so trying to tell them that a lot of the music they listen to is too loud, it's sometimes hard for them to listen to," says Dr. Artz.

So for his patients and for you, Dr. Artz offers some sound advice.

"I tell people that you should not put the volume bar higher than 75 percent and that's going to keep it at probably about 80 decibels or 85 decibels. It's been well shown that anything less than 85 decibels is safe," He explains.

Dr. Artz suggests noise canceling ear buds as well because you don't have to pump up the volume too high to block outside noise.

As for this type of campaign hitting Philadelphia, a health department spokesman says nothing is in the works.

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