monday, december 8, 2003
news
the university daily kansan 3A
Consider comfort,purpose in headphone purchase
Whether sitting or exercising while listening, a variety of headphones are available for different purposes
By Amber Byarlay
abyarlay@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
They can be found throughout campus and in the new Student Fitness Recreation Center. They come in a variety of colors and styles and affect how students hear.
While headphones are commonplace at the University of Kansas, determining which headphone style one needs can be difficult.
Dustin Mitchell, Target sales associate, said most people were buying smaller headphones. The smaller headphones included bud style phones, which are inserted into the ear or clip-on style headphones. Clip-ons have a strap that goes over the ear.
The headphone speaker can either go inside the ear, as with bud style phones, or sit on the top of the ear, as with traditional headphones.
headphones for $6.99 to $9.99
The smaller headphones work well for sports, Mitchell, Salina junior, said. Target, 3201 Iowa St., sells bud style headphones for $4.99 to $9.99 and the clip-on style
Nicole Hall, Andover sophomore, said she used the clip-on style headphones when exercising.
HEADPHONES DIFFER IN STYLE, PRICE, ADVANTAGES
"I had the other ones, but they were a problem for running because they'd always pop out of your ears and slide off your head," Hall said, referring to bud style headphones.
HEADPHONES DIFFER IN STYLE, PRICE, ADVANTAGES A variety of headphones are designed to match the intended purposes of the consumer. Comfort, style, price and features vary in each type of headphone.
Nick Spacek, a music reviewer for several Kansas Web sites including rockkansas.com, said while the smaller headphones were popular for sports, there were several things to consider when choosing the right set of headphones.
One factor is sound quality. Bud style headphones, which go into the ear, and larger, studio style headphones will give the best sound quality, Spacek said. Studio style headphones have large speakers and padding that wraps around the ear. They have a band that goes over the top of the head and can be purchased in Lawrence for $15.77 to $49.99. These two styles of headphones give the best sound quality because they limit the amount of outside sound that can get into
NAME: bud style
PRICE: $3.99 to $3.99
FEATURES: goes inside the ear
BEST FOR: sound quality,
exercising
NAME: Studio style, high-fidelity
PRICE: $15.77 to $49.99
FEATURES: covers entire ear, has
padding and band that goes over
head
Sources: Radio Shack, 6th and Kasold streets; Wel-Mart, 3300 Iowa St.; Target, 3201
St. Best; Boutest, 2020 W 31st St.
the ear. Spacek said.
However, Spacek said those two styles of headphones could create comfort problems, another factor to consider when shopping for headphones. Bud style phones can cause ears to hurt because the speaker is placed inside the ear. Studio style headphones cover the entire ear and don't allow it to breathe, said Spacek.
BEST FOR: sound quality, best if used when not exercising
Despite not allowing ears to breathe, the studio style headphones are Spacek's preference because they are padded, comfortable and have good sound.
"I've owned probably every
Neil Mulka/Kansan
type of headphone they make, at least style-wise," Spacek said.
Although bud and studio style headphones may give the best sound, the most popular style is the type that has speakers sitting on the outside of the ear and are connected by a band that goes behind the head. This style of
headphone has a cord connected to one side of the headphones and can be worn with hats, both of which increase its popularity, Spacek said. The headphones can be bought at various Lawrence stores for $9.96 to $24.99.
College students susceptible to mono; take precautions
— Edited by Erin Riffey
By Michelle Grinstein editor@kansan.com special to the Kansan
Shivering under his blankets and three layers of clothing, Josh Stillman drifts off to sleep in his cold, dark room in Naismith Hall.
At 3 a.m., sweat runs down his face and body as he strips down to his briefs. Stillman crawls back into bed and falls asleep. When the alarm sounds at 8:30 a.m., Stillman struggles out of bed discovering he can barely talk because his tonsils are so inflamed.
Stillman, Buffalo Grove, Ill., freshman, walks to Watkins Memorial Health Center to see the first available doctor. After a blood test, Stillman discovers
that Mononucleosis virus has infected his body.
"Mono is one of the worst feelings I could have imagined," Stillman said. "My tonsils were so inflamed they were resting on my tongue."
With winter approaching, an increasing number of KU students will join Stillman in fighting the effects of mononucleosis, or mono. Also known as "the kissing disease," mono can easily infect people through shared saliva and mucus. So far this semester, Watkins has diagnosed 82 patients with mono. In 2002, 114 patients were diagnosed from August to December.
While symptoms can include high temperatures, sore throats,
"My tonsils were so inflamed they were resting on my tongue."
Josh Stillman Buffalo Grove, Ill., freshman
headaches, swollen glands and fatigue, each person afflicted with the virus suffers differently. Some people with mild symptoms might never know they have mono, while others could be bedridden for a month.
Andrea Cobbel, Plano, Texas, senior said she never realized the harm in swapping saliva. Cobbel's long kiss goodnight ended with swollen glands and a debilitating lack of energy three
weeks later.
"Having mono made it hard on me to get out of bed," Cobbel said. "I would do one small activity and get right back into bed."
Swollen glands took over Cobbel's life. Eating and drinking became an obstacle, since Cobbel found it hard to swallow. Her diet consisted of hot tea and Ramen noodle soup. She lost 20 pounds.
William Brandenberger, Watkins physician, said college students are susceptible to mono because of close contact. Common behavior, such as kissing and sharing food and drink, increases the chances of catching and spreading the virus.
Drugs are not effective in treating the virus. Bed rest with
plenty of fluids are vital in beating the infection, Brandenberger said.
Myra Strother, Watkins associate director chief of staff, said test results for mono could be negative at first. It is often necessary to wait until a patient has been sick for five to seven days before mono tests can find the virus, Strother said.
Once diagnosed, mono doesn't respond to any known treatment. Antibiotics are not useful in treating the viral disease and neither are pills or shots.
The body should be able to successfully fight the infection on its own if patients take proper care of themselves, Strother said. Strother recommends salt-water gargles for the throat and ibuprofen for pain. Soup, crackers and plenty of fluids should be part of the diet when sick with mono, Strother said. Hot or cold tea is also effective for soothing the throat, she said.
Students with mono often miss class. Marshall Jackson, associate director of the Student Development Center, said the center could send letters to professors telling them students have mono. The center also encourages students to contact their professors.
Cobbel said she had learned a lesson from her experience with mono. Now, she said understood that a goodnight kiss can lead not only to a good relationship, but also to a long illness.
—Edited by Ashley Marriott
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