The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) are suggesting a new standard for phone and audio player manufacturers. Lowering the maximum volume of these devices would prevent hearing loss in young people.
466 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss. This partial or total loss of hearing may be due to a congenital disease, infection, medication, or even prolonged exposure to excessive noise. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), half of 12-35 year olds are at risk of hearing loss in the long term because of their prolonged and excessive exposure to excessively loud sounds, in particular from MP3s and smartphones. With the International Telecommunications Union, it proposes to establish a new non-binding standard for manufacturers of smartphones and MP3s. After two years of research and consultations, the announcement was made at a conference in Geneva.
New @WHO and @ITU #SafeListening standard aims to prevent hearing loss among 1.1 billion young people at risk due to excessive exposure to loud sounds, including music.
Protect your hearing, listen safely. https://t.co/5JaloTVi8apic.twitter.com/r3kxB5lYu4— United Nations (@UN) February 12, 2019
A tool to measure sound quantity and volume in MP3s and smartphones
The WHO and the ITU want to set up an internal system for limiting the sound volume in smartphones and MP3s, called the WHO-ITU standard. “It’s like driving on a highway, but without a speedometer in your car, or a speed limit, explained Shelly Chadla, a doctor at the WHO, during the press conference. What we offer is that your Smartphones have a speedometer, a measurement system that informs you of the amount of sound you receive and if you exceed the limit”. With this tool, users could know when their listening becomes dangerous, according to the duration and the volume, thanks to a percentage calculated on a reference level.
The two organizations also suggest that all portable audio devices have an option to limit the sound volume, one of which is automatic and another based on parental controls. This announcement by the WHO and the ITU does not yet mean that the standard will be applied. At this time, this is only a recommendation.
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