Listening to MP3s will make you deaf
Eh? What?
As usual, a technology headline (MP3 users ‘risking hearing loss’) misses the point entirely. MP3 is a digital format used to hold audio, much like WMA. The fact that songs are recorded in MP3 format is not the problem.
The problem is that people are playing the music too loudly, usually with in-ear headphones. Although this would apply however you’re listening to music: on a car radio, with an MP3 player, on the ’stereo’ at home, whatever.
It wouldn’t matter a jot if the music is in MP3 format, WMA format, whether it’s played from a hard disk, from a CD, a cassette tape, from vinyl records, or even whether you’ve got a bunch of Gregorian monks in your garden chanting at you.
What matters is how loud it is.
That’s why there are frequently also warnings about those noisy ‘disco’ places, or whatever it’s called these days for the young hep cats to groove along down at.
But let’s not let the fact that the technology has bugger-all to do with it get in the way of titling this piece so it sounds like another technology scare story, eh? What makes it worse is this was the BBC, where I’d have expected better, but “listening to noises that are too loud can cause hearing loss”, which is what the story actually is, would hardly have sounded like news…
What’s next on the Beeb? “Mobile Phone Masts Can Kill” … if they fall on you ?
Hello. I am 
It’s better than the normal “iPod…” headline. Why pick on a brand name of a particular, popular product and blame it for everything; when what is actually meant is any earphone listening device? Lazy, jingoistic, jump on the band-wagon subbing - which is the point you’re making, so I’ll shut up now
This is typical of a RNId charity
I agree that playing loud music will damage hearing but we all know that.
Just like a government keep sprouting about smoking kills as if we did not know this.
I don’t own any of these devices as you would guess that I am Deaf but I am positive these warning are there in booklets.
A charity that run by hearing people that supposed to represent us, does not employ deaf people and none of the staff can do BSL (British Sign Language)
They make money off the back of our disability,and yes the BBC should know better!
sorry, what did you say?
i was busy listening to my mp3
It’s becoming a bit difficult for the BBC to surprise me at all these days. I’m sure you’ve heard the ongoing stories about misleading interviews, faked scenes, and phone-in contest cockups. The company’s integrity is being put through the shredder all of a sudden. Still, when I first started hearing these stories, I was very disappointed by it. I’ve always held our broadcasters in high regard, especially when compared to FOX and other US media companies. Now ours seems just as bad!