Alert against high volumes of MP3 players
Dubai, April 27, 2011
Listening to music through MP3 players even at moderate volume levels can result in permanent impairment to hearing, a leading audiologist warned.
Dr A V Riza, audiologist at Dubai-based Medcare Hospital, a multi-specialty hospital, was using the International Noise Awareness Day (April 27) to urge caution over the length of time that in-ear listening devices are left in place when music is being played.
“MP3 players have become extremely popular now, particularly with youngsters, but many people are not aware just how easy it is to permanently damage their hearing if they are used for extended periods,” he said.
“While it’s perfectly fine to listen to music over short periods of time using these players - or other devices with in-ear pieces or headphones - users should be aware that it’s not just the level of volume that should be a consideration, but also the length of time spent for each session,” he added.
Dr Riza explained the rule that is used to gauge just how harmful loud sounds are to the sensitive cells of the inner ear.
“Sound pressure levels are measured in decibels and listening to music at 90 decibels for eight hours will cause definite hearing loss. Ninety decibels is the equivalent of a lawnmower, or traffic on a busy highway, or the subway, and this sound pressure level can be sustained for around eight hours before damage to the cells of the cochlear - or inner ear – occurs,” he said.
“For every five decibel increase above this, the listening time is halved, so at 95 decibels you can only tolerate four hours exposure and at 100 decibels, two hours. At 120 decibels and above you can cause instant, irreversible damage,” he added.
Dr Riza continued: “Excessive workplace noise is a glaring problem, as everyone is aware of it and the noise itself is not one you would choose to actively listen to anyway.
With a personal MP3 player, users select their own favourite music, so they will be able to tolerate this form of loud sound much more readily.”
“Although there are now players on the market with built-in software to limit the volume they can be turned to, not all have this facility and many models have a maximum output of 103-108 decibels.”
“When you consider that pain from exposure to high sound pressure levels only occurs at around 120 decibels, you can see that prolonged listening at levels lower than this threshold yet high enough to cause damage to hearing is something that is easily tolerated. The vast storage capacity of these devices, combined with their very long battery lives, means that extended listening sessions are now common place,” he noted.
Dr Riza added that MP3 players or similar appliances are safe to use with their volume set at 50 per cent.
At 60 per cent, he says, music can be listened to for five hours and with the volume is at 90 per cent, the time should be limited to just 10–15 minutes only. He also recommended that a rest period be taken between listening sessions and suggested upgrading the type of headphones used.
“It is important to give your ears some recovery time after listening to music in order allow for normal hair cell functioning. Upgrading your headphones to ambient noise-blocking ones will help MP3 users to reduce the volume, extend their listening time and listen comfortably, even in noisy areas,” he said.
“The most important thing to remember is that you only have one set of ears. Your taste in music will probably change as you get older, but at least by taking these measures you will give yourself the best chance to enjoy your favourite tunes, whether Michael Jackson or Mozart, well into your old age,” Dr Riza concluded. – TradeArabia News Service