iPod users risk premature hearing problems

Nic Fleming, Medical Correspondent, "iPod users risk premature hearing
problems", Telegraph, September 10, 2007,
Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...hearing107.xml

Almost two-thirds of young people who regularly use MP3 players are
putting their hearing at risk.

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) found most 18 to
30-year-olds who took part in tests were listening to their digital
music players at dangerously high volumes.

The charity warns a generation of music lovers could be left facing
premature hearing problems.

Brian Lamb, the acting chief executive of RNID, said: "It's easy to
crank up the sound levels on your MP3 player to damagingly loud
levels, especially on busy streets or public transport.

"But if people can hear the music from your headphones from just a
metre away, you're putting your hearing at risk.

"Young people need to be educated so they can make choices about the
risk of exposure to loud noise - the same as with safe sex, sun
exposure and drink and drugs."

Approximately eight million MP3 players, such as iPods, were sold in
the UK last year.

The World Health Organisation states that listening to earphones at 85
decibels or more for over an hour at a time can damage hearing.

RNID workers used decibel meters to test the volume of 110 young
people's MP3 players in Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham.

They found 72, or 65 per cent, of the people they stopped were
listening at over 85 decibels.

An ordinary spoken conversation measures about 60 decibels, a
pneumatic drill close to 100 decibels, and an aircraft taking off can
reach 110 decibels.

Almost half of young people who use MP3 players listen for more than
an hour a day, and a quarter use them for more than 21 hours per week.

Previous research suggests that 58 per cent of 18 to 30-year-olds are
unaware that listening to MP3 players can damage their hearing.

Almost four in five of those who took part in a survey said they had
never seen warnings about noise levels on the packaging of MP3
players.

The RNID is calling on manufacturers to include clear warnings on MP3
player packaging, and to link volume levels to decibels on the actual
devices so that users know when they reach a potentially dangerous
volume level.

Mr Lamb added: "MP3 player manufacturers have a responsibility to make
their customers aware of the dangers by printing clear warnings on
packaging and linking volume controls to decibel levels."

Last September the RNID wrote to 55 manufacturers of MP3 players,
asking them to use clearer on-pack warnings about the dangers of
listening to their products at high volumes. Only two of the firms
replied.

Another way for those concerned about damaging their hearing to reduce
the risks is to buy in-ear headphone filters which cancel out
background noise and reduce the need to increase volume levels.

The RNID is this weekend running a campaign called Don't Lose the
Music, aiming to raise awareness of the potential risks posed by
excessive MP3 volumes.

The charity is also urging those who use the digital music players to
take a five-minute rest from their headphones for every hour they
listen.