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[Secondary auditory risks from listening to portable digital compact disc players]
1Service central de biophysique et de médecine nucléaire, PAM neurosensoriel, hôpital Lariboisière.
Bulletin De L'Academie Nationale De Medecine
|November 1, 1992
Summary
Portable digital music players pose a significant hearing risk due to high acoustic levels. Even at safe volumes, temporary threshold shifts (TTS) indicate potential damage, especially for those with existing hearing loss.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Occupational Health
- Acoustics
Context:
- Portable digital music players offer enhanced audio quality and portability.
- Increased use of these devices raises concerns about potential hearing damage.
- Previous research has not fully quantified the risk associated with modern digital audio players.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the risk to hearing from portable digital disc-players.
- To measure temporary threshold shifts (TTS) at specific frequencies after listening to music.
- To assess the impact of music genre and pre-existing hearing loss on TTS.
Summary:
- Twelve normally-hearing subjects were exposed to classical and hard-rock music via a digital player at safe acoustic levels.
- Average TTS of 5 dB was observed at 4 and 6 kHz, with no significant difference between frequencies or music types.
- Acoustic levels reached up to 127 dBA, significantly exceeding tolerable limits, indicating a serious hearing risk.
Impact:
- Findings highlight a substantial risk of hearing damage from portable digital music players.
- Special caution is advised for individuals with pre-existing high-frequency hearing loss.
- The study suggests the need for high-frequency audiometry to evaluate TTS above 8 kHz with improved headphones.