Hearing warnings over MP3 players

Noise squad targets Bristol MP3 listeners. Photo courtesy RNID

Young people using MP3 players were the target of a new campaign to warn of permanent hearing damage.

The campaign led by the Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) targeted young people wearing personal listening devices in The Mall, Bristol.

RNID's campaign officer James Francis said two-thirds of MP3 users listened to music above the World Health Organisation recommended volume levels.

"It is about... listening too loud for too long," said Mr Francis.

The RNID recommended music lovers followed guidelines for safer listening to MP3 players.

The guidelines included investing in headphones to cut out background noise and to take a five-minute break from listening to a MP3 player every hour.