After concluding that
prolonged exposure to
loud noise from personal
music players could cause
permanent hearing
damage, the European
Union is setting new limits
that will cap the maximum
volume of the devices at
about 80 decibels. Decibel
levels (dBA) above 85 will
harm hearing over time;
anything above 140 dBA
can cause damage to
hearing after just one
exposure. For comparison,
the following are typical
decibel levels of common
outdoor noises.
How can I tell if the volume on
my iPod or MP3 player is loud
enough to cause hearing
damage?
There are three simple signs that
the volume on your personal
music player is set too high: If
you have it turned on and can’t
hear someone talking to you
in a normal speaking
MENU voice from
a distance of three feet, it’s
probably too loud; if a person
sitting next to you can hear
the music from your ears, it’s
definitely too loud; and if you
have to shout to hear yourself
talk while listening to a personal
music player, it’s up too loud.
140
125
120
120
115–130
THRESHOLD OF PAIN: 140 dBA
110
110
100
90
MENU
Airplane
takeoff
Car stereo
Thunder
Ambulance MP3 player Jackhammer
siren
(max volume)
Who is most at risk to the
effects of noise damage?
People of all ages are vulnerable
to the effects of hearing damage
due to excessive noise. Hearing
experts often warn about the risk
personal
music
players
posepose
to
risk personal
music
players
to youth,
their
concern
youth,
butbut
their
concern
centres
centres
on the excessive
on
the excessive
volume volume
and
and long
periods
of time
young
long
periods
ofMENU
time
young
people may be using the music
players. Another problem facing
young people is that their
environments tend to be noisier
due to technology, such as TV
and MP3 players, which could
cause them to experience the
effects of hearing loss sooner
than older generations.
How long does it take for my
hearing to get damaged from
listening to a personal music
player?
Listening to an MP3 player at
moderate levels likely won’t
pose problems. But cranking up
the volume changes things. You
face significant risk of permanent
hearing loss if MENU
you listen to music
for 45 minutes or more a day
that's so loud a person standing
30 centimetres away must shout
to be heard. You face serious
hearing loss risks if you listen
to music for five minutes a day
that's so loud a person must
shout into your ear to be heard.
The new EU legislation proposes a
maximum default setting of 80 decibels
for portable music players.
85
80
80
60
42
20
MENU
Car horn
Garbage
truck
Lawnmower Crowded
MP3 player
restaurant/patio
Traffic
noise
Normal
Residential
conversation area - night
Rustling
leaves
What’s worse? Ear buds or
over-the-ear headphones?
How can I protect myself from
potential hearing loss?
What are some early signs my
hearing might be damaged?
Some experts say that ear buds
could present more of a
potential risk to listeners
because they sit closer to the ear
and don’t keep competing noise
out as effectively as traditional
headphones. Ear buds that don’t
block out noiseMENU
well may cause
the user to turn the volume up,
which could lead to hearing loss
over a period of time. However,
experts point out that listening
to music too loudly and for too
long presents a risk, no matter
what type of headphone is
worn.
There are several steps consumers can take to avoid hearing
loss. There are many types of
noise-cancelling headphones on
headphones
on help
the market
that
the
market that
eliminate
background noise that may
otherwise push users to turn up
the volume onMENU
their MP3 players
or iPods. Another step is to
adjust the maximum volume of
the music player to
a lower default level. Many types
of music players, such as the
iPod, allow users to adjust the
maximum volume settings,
which can help protect hearing.
But the most effective step
experts recommend? Turn
the volume down – period.
You may experience what’s
called “temporary threshold
shift,” or the feeling that it’s
harder to hear what’s going on
around you. Other signs include
ringing in the ears and the
sensation your ears are “full”
or blocked, a familiar
MENU feeling to
anyone emerging after several
hours at a noisy nightclub. But
the side effects of loud noise
can also be similar to those
of a bad sunburn – they may
not appear until years later.
COMPILED BY CARLY WEEKS, GRAPHIC BY TRISH McALASTER/THE GLOBE AND MAIL 8 SOURCES: REX BANKS, CHIEF AUDIOLOGIST AT THE CANADIAN HEARING SOCIETY; LISA BONNEAU, DIRECTOR OF AUDIOLOGY, THE HEARING LOSS CLINIC IN CALGARY; HEALTH CANADA