AES E-Library

AES E-Library

A Study of Hearing Damage Caused by Personal MP3 Players

Document Thumbnail

This paper aims to assess the actual in-hear sound pressure level during use of mp3 players. The method is based on standard EN 50332 (100dB as maximum SPL), IEC 60959 (HATS) and IEC 60711 (ear simulators), as explained in the January 2007 issue of the Bruel and Kjaer Magazine (page 13) [1]. In this study a number of MP3 players were tested, employing a dummy head and a software for spectrum analysis. The measurements were aimed to assess the hearing damage risk for youngsters who employ an MP3 player for several hours/day. The students of an Italian high school (15-18 years old) were asked to supply their personal devices for testing, leaving untouched the gain from the last usage. The results show that the risk of hearing damage is real for many of the devices tested, which revealed to be capable of reproducing average sound pressure levels well above the risk threshold.

Author:
Affiliation:
AES Convention: Paper Number:
Publication Date:
Subject:
Permalink: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=14340

Click to purchase paper as a non-member or login as an AES member. If your company or school subscribes to the E-Library then switch to the institutional version. If you are not an AES member and would like to subscribe to the E-Library then Join the AES!

This paper costs $33 for non-members and is free for AES members and E-Library subscribers.

Learn more about the AES E-Library

E-Library Location:

Start a discussion about this paper!


AES - Audio Engineering Society