Apparatus for reducing the sound pressure level (SPL) heard by a user of a mobile terminal, such as a cellular phone, when listening with an ear sealed to the mobile terminal and for providing adequate sound when the ear is not sealed to the mobile terminal. Some sound is laterally ported away from the ear-sealing region on the terminal such that the SPL heard with a sealed ear may be controlled to be within regulatory requirements. The need for mechanical or proximity switches may be reduced or eliminated. Adequate SPLs are provided when the ear is not sealed to the device by the combined use of distal and central ports. Excessive SPLs may be prevented for sounds such as alert signals.