What can children do to protect their hearing?
More and more young people are listening to music through MP3 players, but at high volumes these can cause hearing loss.
Current European Union legislation on the power output of ‘portable audio equipment’ with headphone use means the maximum volume personal music players can reach is 100 dBA – which is above the danger level.
Repeated exposure to music from personal music players, through headphones, at, or near to, maximum volume will be sufficient to cause permanent damage to hearing in some people. As a rule, if other people can hear the sound from a personal music player, then it is too loud.
It is recommended that even if the volume on a personal music player is at about 60 percent of maximum (manufacturer's settings), it shouldn’t be listened to for more than an hour continuously a day.
iPod volume update
Apple have recently announced an update that allows people to set the maximum volume on their iPods. It also comes with a code, so parents can stop their children from undoing it (see note 1).
Tips for the younger generation
- Turn down the volume on your music players, whether personal or hi-fi
- Take ear plugs when you are going to a club or party
- Be aware of how long you spend playing loud video games
- Lower the volume of your mobile phone’s ringtone
Remember - if you start to feel your hearing is getting dulled or you start to hear noises in your head, take a break from what you are doing and give your ears some much needed rest.
