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December 12, 2006
Device flashes when sound levels can cause hearing loss
A new device designed to protect people from hearing loss flashes red when an MP3 player or lawn mower is emitting enough noise to cause damage. Three staff members of the Hollins Communications Research Institute spent about a year developing the device, called Ear3.
The Ear3 is a handheld device with a port that can measure surrounding noise or sound from an ear bud. Its red danger signals go from slow flashing at 85-to-90 decibels to steady red at 90 and rapid-fire flashes at 100.
The institute is a nonprofit organization that does research on speech and hearing. It was founded in 1972 by Ronald Webster -- a retired Hollins University psychology professor. He's the executive director.
Webster says people can lose half of their hearing range before they notice it.
Webster said the institute team developed the measuring device because they were concerned about the sound that MP3 players can emit. He says a sound level of 85 decibels is a danger zone for hearing loss, and such personal audio players can emit up to 110 decibels.
http://www.wdbj7.com:80/Global/story.asp?S=5766531&nav=S6aK
Posted by 4HL on December 12, 2006 5:41 AM
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