Throughout the campaign we’ve lobbied personal music player manufacturers, and governments, to better inform the public about how high volumes can damage hearing.

The EU, backing what RNID and audiologists have said for some years, has now acknowledged we could be facing a potential time bomb, with up to 10 million Europeans potentially at risk of damaging their hearing through their listening habits.

Early in 2010, a consultation process will begin, with the EU recommending that a default setting of 85 decibels should be set on all personal music players, and that manufacturers should clearly inform music lovers of the dangers of listening to music too loud on their product packaging.

Of course, we know adults can change any default setting if they choose to do so, but we also know that many young children – who may not be so technically savvy as to override the settings - now regularly listen to music through personal music players. 

If nothing else, the new EU regulations will protect the very young, but also encourage adult listeners to think before they turn up the volume.

The Don’t Lose the Music team at RNID will continue to be involved in the consultation process in 2010, working with manufacturers and legislators to ensure the new standards serve to protect the hearing millions of Europeans so they can enjoy the music they love for many years to come. 

Click here to get involved in our campaign.