Pupils get MP3 noise levels tested

Noise Action Week is an annual initiative organised by Environmental Protection UK, a charity that works for a cleaner, quieter, healthier world. This year the focus is on raising awareness of the dangers of listening to personal music players too loudly for too long.

Council's Environmental Health Officers visited Foyle College and Lumen Christi College in the city with RNID's Don't Lose the Music volunteers, to test the levels at which students listen to their personal music players and to discuss the potential for premature hearing loss.

Experts agree that listening to loud music for prolonged periods - equivalent to a power drill at close range - can damage hearing. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), exposure to loud noise is the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing loss worldwide.

Claire Lavery, RNID NI Communications and Campaigns Manager said: "Millions of people plug in and don't realise that the music they love could be harming them.

"During Noise Action Week, we are encouraging young people in Derry to think about how they listen to music on their personal music players and take steps to protect their hearing. As a rule of thumb if you can't hear external noises or it's uncomfortable to listen to, the music is too loud."

Kieran Shanks, Environmental Health Officer with Derry City Council said, "We would like to thank the schools involved in Noise Action Week for providing us with the opportunity to raise awareness of the dangers of listening to personal music players too loudly for too long."

For more information on RNID's Don't Lose the Music campaign or how loud music can damage your hearing check out www.dontlosethemusic.com