How to Protect Your Child's Hearing from the IPod

Did you know that the iPod and the iPod Nano both come with a safety feature that can allow you to control the item's ultimate volume level? This knowledge comes in handy if you are getting one for your child - or for a spouse who really, really likes Level 11. After all, your family will never pick up their socks again if they can't hear you tell them to.

For the past year, the iPod and iPod Nano have had a Volume Limit feature, which allows the user to lock a maximum volume into place, which can be changed only by the person who possesses the iPod's four-digit code. (Cue megalomaniacal laughter.) This is a code that you yourself will set.

The first thing you need to do is select Settings from the iPod's Main Menu. After that, choose the option Volume Limit. On the Volume Limit screen, the iPod should tell you to select a new maximum volume and press center button.

The key to the universe is the iPod center button.

Select the new maximum volume by moving the iPod's volume level on the volume status bar left or right. This will decrease or increase the volume, respectively. When you are finished, press the iPod's center button. You should see the triangle beneath the bar move to the volume level you have chosen. The iPod will prompt you to set the combination. Choose that option below the prompt. You will see the image of a combination lock dial.

If you change your mind about setting a combination at this point, simply select "Done." The iPod will still have a preset volume limit, but the user won't need to know the code to change it.

Set the combination by moving your finger along the image of the combination dial that appears on the screen. Choose each of the four digits with the iPod's center button. Don't forget to log the four-digit code you have chosen, unless you have an exceptionally good memory.

In order to make these changes to the new iPod, you will, of course, have to listen to it to determine what volume level is acceptable for your child. Results can vary depending on headsets you use, so make sure you use the one your child will be using. You may also want to make sure to test the iPod's volume using the music your child listens to.

Don't go too crazy, though. Setting the volume too low will cause suspicion, or frustrate your offspring enough to make him or her search out a way to hack the iPod.

And that, as they say is that. Setting the iPod's Volume Limit feature is not a complicated process. In fact, the steps to changing the settings on an iPod are pretty straightforward. And it's worth doing to protect your child's hearing.