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New RNID research warns partying MP3 generation they’re listening too loudly for too long - 09 December 2008

RNID is urging music lovers receiving new MP3 players this Christmas to use them responsibly so they can enjoy their favourite music for years to come. The call comes today (Tuesday 9 December 2008) as the charity reveals the results of its largest UK-wide field research which shows that 66% of surveyed MP3 users are listening to louder than 85 decibels which, according to the World Health Organisation, can cause permanent damage to hearing over time. When the cumulative effects of loud music at festive parties, bars and clubs are added to an individual’s weekly dose of high volumes, they risk premature hearing damage, the charity warns.

The charity’s Don’t Lose the Music Squad toured eight cities across the UK to spot-check the volume of 246 shoppers’ MP3 players. The research also found that 54% of MP3 player users tested are risking permanent hearing damage by listening to their devices at dangerously high volumes for longer than the recommended daily exposure limit.

Emma Harrison, RNID’s Director of External Affairs, says: "Our research found people around the country are listening to their MP3 players at unbelievably high levels, with more than one in five blasting their ears with sound levels of 100 decibels or more – the equivalent of hearing a pneumatic drill 10 feet away! One MP3 user was listening at 118 decibels for one hour each day, a volume they shouldn’t be exposed to for more than 11 seconds per day.

"Many music lovers, already running the risk of damage through listening to their MP3 players too highly, will be partying to even more loud music during the festive season, completely oblivious to the danger to their hearing. With more people receiving MP3 players as Christmas gifts, it’s essential they’re aware of the risk and be able to make informed choices and take the steps to protect their hearing so they can enjoy music for longer."

RNID’s findings support a recent European Commission review, which confirmed that listening to personal music players at a high volume over a sustained period can lead to permanent hearing damage.

RNID, which represents the UK’s nine million people who are deaf or hard of hearing, is urging music lovers to follow these guidelines for safer listening:

Take a five-minute rest for every hour you listen to your MP3 player to allow ears to recover.
If you crank up the volume on noisy trains or busy streets, invest in noise-cancelling or sound-isolating headphones that cut out background noise. Remember that even a small change in volume can have a big effect.
Stand away from loud speakers in pubs, clubs, gigs and concerts.
Take regular breaks from the dance floor and use chill out areas to give ears a rest from loud music.
Wear earplugs designed for use in clubs and gigs, which reduce the volume not the quality of the sound – available for the price of a CD.

For more information on exposure to loud music and hearing protection visit www.dontlosethemusic.com (external link)

For further media information, please contact:

Alan Dalziel, RNID Media Officer, on telephone: 020 7296 8388 or email: alan.dalziel@rnid.org.uk

Notes for editors:

High resolution jpeg images of RNID’s Don’t Lose the Music Squad are available by calling 020 7296 8388.
Field research conducted by RNID during 2008 amongst 246 participants in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Bristol, London, Leeds, Belfast, Plymouth and Cardiff found:
a) 163 people – 66% of those tested – were listening at more than 85 decibels
b) 53 people – 22% of those tested – were listening at more than 100 decibels
c) 132 people – 54% of those tested – are risking permanent hearing damage by listening to their devices at dangerously high volumes for longer than the recommended daily exposure limit
According to the World Health Organization, exposure to excessive noise is the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing loss worldwide [1997]. Experts agree that exposure to sound levels over 85 decibels will damage hearing over time. Music played at clubs, gigs and bars can be well over this level. As a guide, if a person has to shout to be heard by someone two metres away, the music could be dangerously loud if they are exposed to it regularly or for a long time.
Research by the EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) found that 5-10% of personal music player listeners risk permanent hearing loss, if they listen to a personal music player at sound levels exceeding 89 decibels for more than one hour per day each week for five years.
Don’t Lose the Music is supported by a host of top musicians and celebrities including Moby, Embrace, Katie Melua, Bloc Party, Eddy Temple-Morris (Xfm), KT Tunstall, Sir George Martin, Lemar, Lou Rhodes, Roger Daltrey, Pete Waterman and Emma B (Radio 1).
RNID is the largest charity representing the UK’s nine million people who are deaf or hard of hearing. We do this with the help of our members by campaigning and lobbying, raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss, providing services and through social, medical and technical research.
For further information about RNID or to become a member, visit www.rnid.org.uk (external link), contact RNID's Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email informationline@rnid.org.uk.

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