In-earphones are a popular tool for listening to audio on MP3 players, mobile phones, etc. But reports suggest that if they are not used correctly, they can damage our hearing. Could you explain a bit more about that? Certainly. Did you know that the maximum volume of an MP3 player is 10 times louder than the level recommended by doctors? Now most of us don’t use maximum volume. In fact, we tend to listen at a sensible level when we are in a quiet place such as at home. The problem is when we are somewhere with a lot of background noise like a train or a bus. One study suggests that 80% of us listen at dangerous levels in this situation. Unfortunately, hearing problems don’t appear for several years. So, most people continue to listen at a dangerous volume until it’s too late. We, therefore, need to do more to educate people about how to use in-earphones. So, they can enjoy their music and protect their hearing at the same time.