MP3 players can damage hearing
Deaf charity, the RNID, is warning that more than two thirds of young people who regularly use MP3 players face premature hearing damage because they are playing the volume too high.
With a reported eight million MP3 players sold last year alone in the UK, this is alarming. The RNID goes on to accuse manufacturers of failing to put clear warnings on the packaging and is urging MP3 fans to buy in-ear filters for headphones.
In-ear filters cancel out background noise and reduce the need to increase volume levels – which sounds like a good idea, particularly as latest research from the charity found that 72 out of 110 MP3 users tested in Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham were listening to volumes above 85 decibels. To put this in perspective, a busy street is around 70 decibels and the sound of a pneumatic drill comes in at 100 decibels.
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