Going Deaf With MP3 Players

Posted by Barbara Pytel Oct 12, 2007

MP3 Players

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People is growing very concerned. Teenagers are using MP3 players at high decibels levels and this is causing premature hearing loss. Research shows that over 75% of MP3 users set volumes over 85 decibels.

Noise Levels

Just what are the levels in a typical day?

• 20 decibels-quiet room at night
• 60 decibels-ordinary conversation
• 70 decibels-busy street
• 100 decibels-a pneumatic drill
• 110 decibels-airplane taking off

This study shows that listening to earphones at 85 decibels or more for over an hour at a time can damage hearing.

Time Used

RNID found that almost half of MP3 owners used the players for more than an hour a day. 25% of them listened to music more than 21 hours per week. Some are falling asleep listening to music or television.

No Warnings

Manufacturers are not putting warnings on packages.

• 58% of teenagers were unaware of any risk
• 79% of teenagers had never seen warnings

Too Loud?

Brian Lamb, acting chief executive of RNID, said: "If people can hear the music from your headphones from just a metre away, you're putting your hearing at risk." [BBC News, newsvote.bbc.co.uk, September 9, 2007]

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.

Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.