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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

A Lightweight, Headphones-based System for Manipulating Auditory Feedback in Songbirds
Published on: November 26, 2012
[Music through earphones: an underestimated risk]
E Cassano1, P Bavaro, Ingrid Aloise
1Università degli Studi di Bari, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Medicina Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina del Lavoro E.C. Vigliani. f.cassano@medlav.uniba.it
Background:
The authors studied exposure to the noise generated by digital music listening devices (MP3) as used by young people.
Objectives:
to study the level of sound emission of some of these devices at 100%, 75% and 50% volume.
Methods:
Using a mannequin, the LeqA, LmaxA, LeqC and the peak in C of nine of the most commonly used devices was measured at levels of sound emission of 100%, 75% and 50%.
Results:
It was found that all the devices exceeded 100 dBA of Leq at 100% of the listening volume. We therefore estimated the Lex8, as recommended in Italian Law 195/06, to which these young people are exposed using the devices for 15, 30, and 60 minutes/day.
Conclusions:
Young people undergoing daily exposures for only 15 minutes at maximal listening volume exceed the limit value of daily occupational exposure for workers, which Law 195/06 fixes at 87 dBA.
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