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Some Children's Headphones Raise Concerns of Hearing Loss, Report Says (go.com)

Some headphones marketed for children may not restrict enough noise for young ears. From a report on ABC: The Wirecutter, a technology products review website (owned by the New York Times), tried out 30 different children's headphones for style, fit and safety by using both a plastic model ear and a few real children. "There's no governing board that oversees this," Lauren Dragan, the Headphone Editor at The Wirecutter, told "Good Morning America" in an interview that aired today. Dragan added that the headphones for children all claim to limit volume to around 85 decibels. Sound below the 85 decibel mark for a maximum of eight hours is considered safe, according to the World Health Organization. The Wirecutter report found that some of these headphones emit sound higher than the 85 decibel mark. The full report here.

2 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Wish they'd looked into this sooner by wjcofkc · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When I was a kid back in late 80's early 90's, I was constantly listening to Megadeth on my Walkman with the volume cranked up all the way. I paid the price for that. Now in my adult life people get frustrated when I can't hear them. I can easily trace the decline in my hearing back to my Walkman days. As near as I can tell, no one at the time thought it was serious matter at all.

    I still listen to Megadeth though.

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    Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
  2. Re:cheap chinese crap by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Headphones are perfectly fine, as long as you either get ones that isolate outside noise, or only listen in already quiet areas. Trying to block outside noise by turning up your music is what damages hearing.

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    Eat the rich.