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Many people enjoy listening to music on a personal music player, and if they suffer from noise-induced hearing loss it is due to the fact that they have been listening to their music at too high a level.
In these cases, where warnings about the dangers of hearing loss are present on the product's packaging or instruction leaflet, it is unlikely that they could make a compensation claim.
However, some companies are catering to much younger children, and at this point a firm should take care to make sure that their very young customers do not become victims of personal injury.
Whereas an older individual should realise that exposure to loud noises will damage their hearing, and will be able to read product warnings, young children may not know of this risk.
On the 28th September 2009 the European Union discussed and implemented legislation which meant that all MP3 players would have their default maximum volume settings set at 85 decibels, but the owners of the products would still be able to over-ride this setting to bring the level up to around 100 decibels.
Some companies who manufacture headphones for the younger children limit the volume of their products to around 85 decibels, without giving the possibility of increasing the limit, but even prolonged exposure to this level of sound can cause gradual hearing loss.
EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, stated at the time, "It's easy to push up the sound levels on your MP3 player to damagingly loud levels, especially on busy streets or public transport.
"And the evidence is that particularly young people – who are listening to music at high volumes sometimes for hours each week- have no idea they can be putting their hearing at risk.
"It can take years for the hearing damage to show, and then it is simply too late. These standards make small technical changes to players so that by default, normal use is safe.
"If consumers chose to override the default settings they can, but there will be clear warnings so they know the risks they are taking."
If music players used with headphones do not provide a warning about the risk of hearing loss, whether they cater for young children or for the wider public, the company which makes the product could have a compensation claim made against them.
It is important to remember that if the warning is present on the item, it is up to a responsible adult to make sure that the child does not spend too much time listening to their music at a high volume.
Noise-induced hearing loss in children
If your child has sustained hearing damage due to the volume of their personal music player, you are not likely to be able to make a claim unless there was no warning of the risks to hearing on the item's packaging or instruction leaflet.
However, if there was no warning present then you may have a valid case and one of YouClaim's expert solicitors could help you receive the remuneration you deserve.
Contact us on 0800 10 757 95 or speak over the internet regarding your noise-induced hearing loss claim via live help.
