Many Unaware Of The Risk To Their Hearing From MP3 Players

Main Category: Hearing / Deafness
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 16 Dec 2008 - 0:00 PST

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The audiology departments at Epsom and St Helier hospitals are advising people to listen carefully to their new MP3 players, including iPods, this Christmas.

Dr Robin Yeoh is a specialist in hearing and the Trust's lead clinician in audiology. He said: "There are now more ways to listen to music on the move than ever before. We're not against music; but most listeners, in particular the younger ones, are completely unaware of any risk to their hearing from MP3 players.

"Listening to loud personal music players over a long period may cause temporary or permanent hearing loss, as well as tinnitus (noises in the ears). We recommend limiting how long you use your MP3 player for and lowering the volume."

This advice follows findings published in a recent report* by the EU Scientific Committee which found that people who listen to personal music players for just five hours a week at high volume are exposing themselves to potentially harmful levels of noise.

Robin said: "Unfortunately we often see patients who have damaged their hearing because of excessive exposure to loud sound, including music from personal music players and from clubbing. Such damage will not improve and may worsen with continued exposure."

European safety standards are already in place that limit personal music players, such as MP3 players, to 100 decibels (dB); however scientists warn that anything above 80dB is enough to pose a potential risk and the risk increases with louder levels, and with longer use.

Robin added: "MP3 players are fantastic technology and make a great Christmas present. Just be careful with your hearing - it's a much more precious gift."

*'Potential health risks of exposure to noise from personal music players and mobile phones including a music playing function' published by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) in October 2008.

Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals
www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk