Do you like listening to MP3 songs with an earphone? I remember purhcasing a Sony MP3player and complained that the sound volume is too low, and finally found some solution to 'unlock' the sound level because I think the sound is simply too low. In fact, by doing that, I am actually trying to put my ear at risk! This was confirmed by new research in the US.
Caption: listening to music with an earphone
This is a relatively important issue related to health risk. A recent research from Europe (EU) had proven that approximately 5 to 10 per cent of the population who uses a personal music player with earphone is encountering such risk because they mainly set the volume of the player too high. I understand setting higher volume in an MP3 player will provide sound fidelity, increasing our enjoyment when listening to music. That is very normal, and should apply to myself when using a personal music player. The maximum volume of my MP3 player is 30, and usually, I will set it at 27, high enough to provide satisfaction to myself, especially when walking in a noisy street.
Caption: an example of a personal music player (or MP3)
Actually, what is considered as a very high volume? Around late 1950, Donald Broadbent, a cognitive psychologist who are specialize at sound analyses suggests that the sound level of 90 db and above (similar to litre for measuring water, instead, db or decibel is a measuring term for sound) is considered as noise. Cognitive psychologists reported that the noise produced by many people when applausing in a concert hall is equal to 90 db. Beyond that is considered as noise. The differences between sound and noise is that noise will not only affect our sound perception, producing health risk, but will deliberately affect our stress level (making us very stressful). A much more important effects produces by noise is causing social isolation to that person, and leading people to withdraw from family, work and friends. This was proven by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf in UK. Since we are using earphone/headphone, the surround sound will propagate around our inner ear. That is why listening to music with an earphone/headphone at a moderate volume will easily reach 90 db.
Caption: audiences applausing, reaching 90 db noise
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that setting the volume of our music player too high may even cause permanent damage to our ear. We should encounter permanent damage to our ear if we listen to the music with an earphone for more than 1 hour a day, and probably revealing the result in the next 5 years. The final solution given for people who love listening to loud music with an earphone is to NOT listen to the music for more than 5 hours a week. There is this proposed rules in the Europe, stating that the cellphone or MP3 players should have an indication (i.e. a warning message) prompted to the user when exceeding a 'too-high' volume. But, is that useful? For instance, it was stated that split attention will still occur when we were driving (with our eye) and listening to our cellphone (with our ear) at a time. Even the govenment in many countries have indicated that a penalty will be given to reckless drivers like that, but will anyone bother? The answer is no!
Caption: reckless driver listening to cellphones when driving
Therefore, a suggestion was provided to all personal music player manufacturer, that is to set the default volume to (below average) 80 db, and warn users to not listen to the music for more than 40 hours a week (maximum of 5.7 hours a day). Anyway, I still assume that 90 db is really loud, but easily reachable with an earphone (or even listening to music with earphone, with mobile phones) even at a moderate volume level. However, if the volume is too low, then I think we will probably not get attracted to the personal music player. So, you should decide yourself to either not enjoying the music or put your ear at risk!
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