MP3 players are just one example of the potential of popular technology to wreak havoc on our hearing. In fact, noise is the leading cause of hearing loss, affecting an estimated 10 million Americans. More than 28 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, and by the year 2030, that number is expected to soar to 78 million.

Wednesday, April 26, is International Noise Awareness Day. The goal of the day, in its 11th year, is to educate the public about the dangers of noise to hearing and health. In Minnesota, the Sight & Hearing Association is offering free hearing screenings statewide on April 26 to encourage people to think about their hearing.

To find a screening site in Minnesota, click here.

"It's the rare kid today who doesn't have wires snaking out of her ears rocking to her own personal soundtrack," said Julee Sylvester, spokesperson for the Sight & Hearing Association. "There is a lot of concern out there that noise-induced hearing loss is occurring at much younger ages."

More than 42 million people now own an Apple iPod, the best known of the portable music players. In a recent study by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the iPod reached 120-125 decibels (dB) at full volume. At that level, the potential risk for hearing damage occurs in less than 7.5 minutes. Even the Bratz-Liptunes and Disney Mix Stick - MP3 players marketed to younger children - nearly matched the iPod, showing decibel levels as high as 120 and 118 dB respectively.

These portable stereos, which can hold thousands of songs and have longer-lasting batteries, enable users to listen for longer periods - not giving ears a chance to recover. The Sight & Hearing Association encourages the public to lower the volume (certain iPod users can download new volume control software just released by Apple) and limit the time spent listening.

"The simple rule is a person should not listen for longer than 60 minutes at 60 percent of the maximum volume," Sylvester suggests.

Unfortunately, it's not just MP3 players that are cause for concern. In today's world, noise is all around us - at home, at work and in the activities we choose to do for fun. And, because hearing loss is completely painless, most people don't realize they're damaging their hearing until it's too late.

"There is no cure for noise-induced hearing loss," Sylvester says. "That's why it's critical to take care of your hearing."

International Noise Awareness Day, which began in 1996, is spearheaded by the League for the Hard of Hearing in New York, and is a joint effort of numerous hearing-related organizations worldwide.