Dangers of mp3s 'need to be highlighted'
It is common to see people walking down the street with earphones in and the age of digital media has only served to increase the number using mp3 players, but one expert has warned that these devices may actually be damaging to health.
Dr Huw Cooper, a spokesman for the British Academy of Audiolog, told health cover holders there is "sufficient evidence" that prolonged exposure to noise generated by mp3 players can cause severe hearing problems and even deafness.
His comments follow the publication of a report by the European Commission, which asked standardisation bodies to develop new guidelines concerning noise restrictions on portable music players.
According to the organisation, exposure should be limited and warning signs placed on devices, to reduce the danger of people suffering severe problems later in life.
Dr Cooper agreed with these recommendations, pointing out that Safety at Work legislation limits the noise levels that workers are exposed to for exactly the same reason.
"Normal, sensible use would not present a risk of permanent hearing loss. Modern mp3 players … are commonly listened to with in-the-ear earphones which can present very high levels of sound into the ear canal. When used in noisy places, the sound levels are often turned up to dangerous levels," he said.
The healthcare expert added that one of the main problems is that there is not enough awareness of the dangers of listening to portable mp3 players at high volumes, pointing out that the Royal National Institute for Deaf People has "actively campaigned" to highlight the risks.
"More needs to be done to educate people about the risk to hearing of noise exposure that can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus.," Dr Cooper concluded.
Posted by Stephen Tate
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