IMac Doesn't Detect Headphones

I have a ~year old 24" iMac (2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo) that I just suddenly started having a problem with. I use headphones pretty regularly and they are almost always plugged into the headphone jack. Recently, I lent my headphones to someone and, when I plugged them back in, the machine doesn't detect them. The audio works just fine coming out of the internal speakers, it's just that it always comes out of the internal speakers, no matter if the headphones are plugged in or not (the headphones also work fine when plugged in somewhere else). I took a look at the Sound Preferences panel and, sure enough, it doesn't detect the headphones as plugged in. Does anyone have any suggestions on troubleshooting?
I'm not sure it matters, but I did just recently upgraded to 10.5.6. The headphones worked after the upgrade, but it may be that this is the first time they were replugged in after the upgrade.

It sounds like the head phone jack has been damaged. If they were connected to a port they weren't meant for, that can happen. And that in turn, can damage your audio output port.
Try disconnecting everything but the keyboard and mouse and reboot the iMac. See if that makes a difference.
Resetting the SMC only provides this kind of support:
-Telling the computer when to turn on, turn off, sleep, wake, idle, and so forth.
-Handling system resets from various commands.
-Controlling the fans. so I doubt it can fix the audio issue.
Check the headphone port really close, make sure there isn't any dust or link or anything that might keep the jack from connecting properly.
Carolyn

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