Up to 10 per cent of personal music player users risk permanent hearing loss, according to a new report. Michael Kellyreports
THE CHIEF Executive of the Consumer Association of Ireland (CAI) Dermot Jewell has called on the EU to reduce the maximum volume levels permitted on personal music players such as iPods and M3 players.
The call comes following last week's publication by the European Union of an opinion from its Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) which estimates that up to 10 per cent of personal music player users risk permanent hearing loss if they listen for more than an hour a day at high volume settings for five years.
"I am concerned that so many young people, in particular, who are frequent users of personal music players and mobile phones, may be unknowingly damaging their hearing irrevocably," said EU consumer affairs commissioner Meglena Kuneva in last week's EU statement.
"We need to look again at the controls in place, in the light of this scientific advice, to make sure they are fully effective."
Excessive noise can damage several cell types in the ear and can lead to tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears), as well as temporary or permanent hearing loss.
A European safety standard already exists restricting the noise level of personal music players to 100 decibels (dB), but the SCENIHR report found that regularly listening to personal music players at volumes above 80 dB poses a significant risk to hearing.
In addition, the 100dB limit falls short of EU noise protection limits in other areas - for example, employers must currently provide protection for workers where workplace noise exceeds 80 decibels for an eight-hour working day.
Given the ubiquity of personal music players, the potential health implications of so-called "leisure noise" could be enormous. According to the SCENIHR report, an estimated 184-246 million portable audio devices were sold in the EU in the four years up to 2007 and up to 100 million people listen to these devices on a daily basis in the EU.
The problem is compounded by the fact that an increasing number of mobile phones now have MP3 functionality.
The maximum volume level on personal music players varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but ranges from approximately 80-121dB across different devices.
Manufacturers selling their products in the EU must place a sound limiter on their devices to restrict them to 100dB but the internet is rife with software "hacks" which promise to restore the pre-limit volume.
The amount of sound energy that reaches the eardrum also depends on the type of music, the type of headphone used, and in the case of ear-buds on how deeply they are inserted in the ear canal.
In addition it is not just volume that puts users at risk of hearing damage, but also exposure time. A 2007 study by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People in Britain found that nearly 40 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds listened to personal music players for at least an hour every day and 42 per cent admitted thinking they had the volume too high.
These volume levels and exposure times are astonishingly high, according to audiologists. "We advise people in industry and the workplace to wear ear protection if they are being exposed to 80dB of noise," says the president of the Irish Society of Audiology, Jean Hegarty. "Ear protection is mandatory at 85dB. So I am astonished that the EU level for these devices is 100dB."
To put the 100dB limit in context, Jennifer Sim, an audiological scientist at Temple Street Children's Hospital says it is equivalent to standing just 12 feet away from a pneumatic drill. "The upper ranges of these devices, up to 120dB are very dangerous. You are talking about the equivalent noise of a gunshot or a military jet."
Excessive noise, according to Sim, causes irrevocable damage to hair cells in the inner ear which then lose their ability to transmit sound to the brain. "Once these cells are damaged they are pretty much beyond repair. The problem with hearing loss is that it's painless and gradual. It could be five or 10 years down the line before you notice anything wrong."
Advice from audiologists is for users to obey the 60/60 rule. "We would advise users to operate these devices at 60 per cent of their maximum volume and use them for a maximum of 60 minutes a day," says Sim.
A common annoyance for public transport users is the "leakage" of noise from other people's headsets. According to Jean Hegarty this is also an indication that their device volume is too high. "No one else should be able to hear your music and if they can, it's way too loud."
Commissioner Kuneva last week announced plans for a conference in early 2009 to evaluate the findings of the SCENIHR report with member states, industry, consumers and other stakeholders. On the table she said will be the "need for further regulations or revisions of existing safety standards to protect consumers".
Our government must take an advocacy role on behalf of consumers and lobby to reduce the 100dB limit dramatically says the CAI's Dermot Jewell. "As far as I can see the manufacturers don't seem to think they have a responsibility with regard to consumer health. Representatives of the industry will say they have a survey that proves consumers don't use these units at a level that constitutes a danger to hearing."
• Find out more about personal music players and hearing at www.ec.europa.eu/health/opinions/en/hearing-loss-personal-music-player-mp3/index.htm
Sound advice about personal music players
Check your personal music player to see if a maximum volume can be set to keep the volume lower. Apple iPod users can follow the instructions at apple.com/sound/faq.html.
Experts recommend that you set the maximum volume while in a quiet environment.
Follow the 60/60 rule - keep the volume level of your device to 60 per cent of the maximum possible volume and limit exposure to 60 minutes per day.
If you cannot hear other people while you are listening to your music player, or if other people can hear music from your headphones, then the volume is too loud, according to audiologists.
Avoid increasing the volume of your device to compensate for a louder ambient noise level - eg on trains, buses, busy streets and so on.
The environmental noise level may already be as high as 70 to 80dBm, according to audiologists.
The SCENIHR report found evidence to suggest that "ear-bud"-type headphones which are inserted in to the ear canal deliver higher sound volume to the user. Opt for larger headphones instead.
If you experience ringing in your ears, stop listening and have your hearing checked by a diagnostic audiologist.