Please help! School Assignment

EchoEvolution · #1 (**permalink**) September 3rd, 2007, 01:35 AM

I am currently working on a school assignment in which my focus is based on hearing impairments due to the use of DAPs. So I would be grateful if some of you would kindly help answer the questions below. The information that would collected from this survey is for research purposes only, and the information that is obtained shall be deleted upon the completion of the assignment.
In addition, as a school policy, they have required me to collect information only from legal adults. So anyone who is not a legal adult should not need to answer these questions.

Thank you.

1) As a DAP (Digital audio player) user, what is your response to the possibility of hearing impairments from listening to DAPs?

2) As we are all on the same forum for the same brand of DAP, how adequate do you feel the stock earphones are in their ability to prevent hearing damage?

3) Have you purchase earphones from other companies? If yes; besides from enhanced sound quality, how adequate do you feel that the earphone you have purchased offer adequate protection of your ears from hearing impairment?

4) How much effort do you feel that iRiver has put in to development of its DAPs so that it has reduced the hearing impairment from consumers?

5) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that the DAP has to offer?

6) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that your earphone has to offer?

7 )How would you feel if companies have warning signs like on cigarette boxes but instead regarding hearing impairment?

Are there any additional details or comments you would like to make?

DD · #2 (**permalink**) September 3rd, 2007, 06:36 AM

Ooo, give me a few minutes and I'll fill this in.
I asked for help in a similar way a few months back and got about 100 responses

I'm not a legal adult, but the school never need know that do they?

1) As a DAP (Digital audio player) user, what is your response to the possibility of hearing impairments from listening to DAPs?
People know about the consequences of listening to loud music - if the want to continue after that then its their choice. Its like smoking.

2) As we are all on the same forum for the same brand of DAP, how adequate do you feel the stock earphones are in their ability to prevent hearing damage?
I never use stock earbuds anyway, but the earbud design means that people turn the volume up to block out noise which is why I much prefer IEMs.

3) Have you purchase earphones from other companies? If yes; besides from enhanced sound quality, how adequate do you feel that the earphone you have purchased offer adequate protection of your ears from hearing impairment?
Yes, I have canalphones and Shure IEMs. These are much better for protecting your hearing because the sound isolation means you can still hear and enjoy the music at much lower volumes. Some people argue they are bad because they channel the sound directly into your ears, but I feel that lacks grounding - your ears are designed to channel sound into your ear canal anyway, what's wrong with going straight there and keeping the volume at reasonable levels?

4) How much effort do you feel that iRiver has put in to development of its DAPs so that it has reduced the hearing impairment from consumers?
Not a lot, apart from the obligatory warning stickers on the DAPs. I think Sony DAPs have a feature which you can turn on to limit the volume.

5) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that the DAP has to offer?
I don't really think it offers any. When it comes down to it its completely your responsability.

6) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that your earphone has to offer?
Satisfied, although there is the potential to do a lot more damage than with stock earbuds if used irresponsibly.

7 )How would you feel if companies have warning signs like on cigarette boxes but instead regarding hearing impairment?
Would make sense. They already have stickers, but they're unintrusive and just get peeled off and forgotten about. A large warning on the box would be good, but not actually anything to spoil the look of the player. Perhaps an on-screen warning if you turn the volume above 60%?

Are there any additional details or comments you would like to make?
As above (on screen warning)

**andrewmel** · #3 (**permalink**) September 3rd, 2007, 07:52 PM

1) As a DAP (Digital audio player) user, what is your response to the possibility of hearing impairments from listening to DAPs?

I dont have the volume very loud. When I was teaching I would monitor students volume. It if it was too loud, I made them turn it off.

2) As we are all on the same forum for the same brand of DAP, how adequate do you feel the stock earphones are in their ability to prevent hearing damage?

The stock headphones are capable of producing hearing loss, so you do need to have the volume turned down, if you want to save your hearing. However it is your hearing, and I will never be using your ears, so feel free to listen at whatever levels keep you happy.

3) Have you purchase earphones from other companies? If yes; besides from enhanced sound quality, how adequate do you feel that the earphone you have purchased offer adequate protection of your ears from hearing impairment?

I own and use Shure E500 headphones. These have good sound isolation, as the earbuds go into your ear canal. This means they block outside noise very well. The result of this is that in a noisy environment, like a subway, I do not have to turn my music up to compete with the outside noise. This means that I will suffer less hearing loss.

4) How much effort do you feel that iRiver has put in to development of its DAPs so that it has reduced the hearing impairment from consumers?

Besides implementing volume limits required by EU law, none.

5) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that the DAP has to offer?

Looking after my hearing is up to me, not iRiver, or any other company.

6) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that your earphone has to offer?

Very.

7 )How would you feel if companies have warning signs like on cigarette boxes but instead regarding hearing impairment?

I agree. I think courses covering hearing loss should happen in schools during science.

Are there any additional details or comments you would like to make?

Look after your ears, you will miss them when they are gone. You might think, like I did 30 years ago, that only the young listen to music. However, 30 years later, I get as much enjoyment out of music as I have at any time in my life.

a

Coop · #4 (**permalink**) September 3rd, 2007, 09:09 PM

Happy to help out.

1) As a DAP (Digital audio player) user, what is your response to the possibility of hearing impairments from listening to DAPs?
It's a concern of mine. I try to be mindful of the volume, and avoid using the DAP when there are loud competing noises (for example, I don't use it while mowing the lawn.

2) As we are all on the same forum for the same brand of DAP, how adequate do you feel the stock earphones are in their ability to prevent hearing damage?
I hardly ever use the stock earphones, but I don't think they have any ability to "prevent hearing damage". I don't expect that they would.

3) Have you purchase earphones from other companies? If yes; besides from enhanced sound quality, how adequate do you feel that the earphone you have purchased offer adequate protection of your ears from hearing impairment?
Again, I'm not sure that the offer any potection, not should they. One pair that is noise isolating allows me to listen at a safe volume even if there is outside noice but that's about it

4) How much effort do you feel that iRiver has put in to development of its DAPs so that it has reduced the hearing impairment from consumers?
If I remember correctly, there's a warning with the instructions, which is probably the bare minimum. There could be more. I think I'd like to see something like what is on the iPod, where there is a softer volume limit that one needs to go in and manually change.

5) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that the DAP has to offer?
Somewhat satisfied

6) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that your earphone has to offer?
satisfied

7 )How would you feel if companies have warning signs like on cigarette boxes but instead regarding hearing impairment?
I'd support that.

Additional comments:
Like any old fart, when I come across some kid listening to his/her DAP at ear-splitting volume, I just shake my head. But then I started thinking about all of the hearing I've likely lost in my teens playing in bands and going to concerts without any ear protection at all. I don't think I started taking hearing loss seriously until I was well into my 20's and only then because of a friend who was a real audiophile. I'm not sure how seriously teens would take additional warnings. I think we live in world where people think "Well, they wouldn't make it go so loud if it was harmful." I think a softer default setting with an option to override (and accompanying warning) might be a good way to go.

jimhughes · #5 (**permalink**) September 3rd, 2007, 09:10 PM

Andrewmel:
I would have to agree with the previous two forms. You and only you are responsible for those actions which might cause injury to yourself. I use lower volumes with the occlusive IEM model headphones. I'm researching the issue of aftermarket IEM's but solely for quality of music, not necessairly loudness. The manufacture of an automobile is not responsible for my using it irresponsibly, neither should I rive or MacDonalds be responsible for my using the player tat too loud a level or eating too much. I think both of the two prior commentaries succintly, and eloquently, express my opinions. Good luck on your assignment, Jim

**andrewmel** · #6 (**permalink**) September 3rd, 2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coop

I think we live in world where people think "Well, they wouldn't make it go so loud if it was harmful." I think a softer default setting with an option to override (and accompanying warning) might be a good way to go.

One university I attended had exactly this setup. There was a series of lights visible to the band that indicated how loud the music was. If it exceeded a level set by the university, power to the stage would be automatically cut for 10 seconds. Needless to say, the bands all complied with these restrictions, as you look sort of funny when the power cuts out.

a

**jumbuck** · #7 (**permalink**) September 4th, 2007, 04:57 PM

1) As a DAP (Digital audio player) user, what is your response to the possibility of hearing impairments from listening to DAPs?

It is entirely up to the individual user, if they are informed of the danger and choose to ignore it then so be it.

2) As we are all on the same forum for the same brand of DAP, how adequate do you feel the stock earphones are in their ability to prevent hearing damage?

Due to the lack of sound isolating capabilitys I find them very inadequate.

3) Have you purchase earphones from other companies? If yes; besides from enhanced sound quality, how adequate do you feel that the earphone you have purchased offer adequate protection of your ears from hearing impairment?

Yes. (Creative Ep630) They do allow me to have the volume at a much lower level in areas with high levels of background noise.

4) How much effort do you feel that iRiver has put in to development of its DAPs so that it has reduced the hearing impairment from consumers?

Very little (if any).

5) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that the DAP has to offer?

Pretty neutral about this.

6) How satisfied are you with the amount of protection of hearing impairment that your earphone has to offer?

Most satisfied .

7 )How would you feel if companies have warning signs like on cigarette boxes but instead regarding hearing impairment?

It would probably be a total waste of time , nothing seems to ever get passed the " That sort of thing only happens to other people , It'll never happen to me" therory that we humans seem to specialise in thinking.

EchoEvolution · #8 (**permalink**) September 17th, 2007, 10:53 PM

Hi, sorry to bother you all again... But my teacher is being extremely tight about the viability of the people I'm asking so if possible could you please provide your names as well?
Through PM would be fine too!

**DreamTactix291** · #9 (**permalink**) September 17th, 2007, 11:55 PM