Children’s headphones ‘could damage their hearing’

HEADPHONES marketed for children exceed their advertised volume limits, an investigation has found.

An expert warns exposing them to these levels could leave youngsters with ‘the hearing of a 70-year-old by the time they’re 50’.

Researchers tested six headphones – PuroSound, LilGadgets, Snuggly Rascals, Peppa Pig, JVC Tinyphones and Kidz Gear. When used with smartphones and tablets, most of them limited the volume to their claimed levels. But Snuggly Rascals, for children aged three and above and boasting a limit of 85 decibels, hit 95 when connected to a tablet and around 100 decibels when attached to a laptop and CD player.

All of them, apart from the PuroSound and Kidz Gear ones, exceeded their advertised limit by at least three decibels when plugged into a laptop or CD player. Hearing expert Dr Michael Stone, of Manchester University, said a safe volume for children is around 80 decibels. Higher than that, ‘they could end up with the hearing of a 70-yearold by the time they’re 50,’ he said.

LilGadgets, costing £34.99, are advertised as reducing sound levels to 93 decibels, something Dr Stone said was ‘disturbing’.

Kidz Gear claims to limit volume from 80 to 90 decibels but specifications state they can go up to 108 decibels. JVC said that ‘to ensure 85 decibels is not exceeded’ headphones ‘should be checked by the parent.’

LilGadgets said it used ‘the EU testing methods for volume level testing’. Peppa Pig said ‘85 decibels was the recommended level output’ as ruled by the World Health Organisation. While Snuggly Rascals added: ‘Our packaging quotes volume levels which are widely regarded as safe.’

The investigation by Supershoppers airs on Channel 4 on Monday night at 8pm.