Your MP3 player puts your hearing at risk

Your MP3 player is in your ears. You play it at full blast. The sound is great and you can bring it everywhere. But the small music player can damage your hearing.

A team of British researchers removed the headphones from a number of 18-24 year-olds who played their music on MP3 players and other personal stereos. Two in every three of these youngsters told the researchers that they regularly suffer from ringing or hissing sounds in their ears. Such noises may be a first indication that the personal stereo is played too loudly, according to the researchers. Many personal stereos were played at dangerous sound levels when an Australian team of researchers tested randomly selected passers-by with personal stereos in the streets of Melbourne and Sydney. One in every four study participants was found to play their music at noise levels putting them at risk of hearing damage. The average noise exposure level was determined to be 79.8 dB. Less than one hour a day Sound level is just one important factor. Sustained use of your MP3 player is equally important. The British researchers found that 39 percent of the youngsters listened on their personal stereos, on average, more than one hour a day, and that is too long. Keep your personal stereo use to less than one hour a day, said the researchers. Sources: “RNID research reveals huge risk of hearing loss amongst MP3 player and personal stereo users”, May 16, 2005, www.rnid.org.uk, and “Personal Stereo Noise Exposure”, www.nal.gov.au.