“Young people who regularly plug in to MP3 players are facing premature hearing damage” according to new research revealed today (Friday 7 September 2007) by charity RNID, which shows that more than two thirds of 18-30 year olds listen to their devices at dangerously high volumes.

The charity used decibel meters to test the volume of 110 young people’s MP3 players in Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham and found that 72 out of those tested were listening at over 85 decibels (1). Separate research by the charity found that almost half of young people who use MP3 players listen for more than an hour a day, with a quarter listening for more than 21 hours a week.

The World Health Organization says that listening to earphones at 85 decibels or more for over an hour at a time can damage hearing (3) – and with eight million MP3 players sold last year alone in the UK, RNID is warning that a generation of young music lovers could face premature hearing damage.

The findings are revealed to launch the charity’s first ever Don’t Lose the Music Weekend (7 – 9 September 2007), which aims to raise awareness of the dangers of listening to music too loudly.

RNID is calling on manufacturers to include clear on-pack warnings and to link volume levels to decibels so music fans know when they’ve reached a damaging volume and can take action to protect their hearing.

Hearing damage is irreversible but easily preventable. RNID, which represents the UK’s 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people, is urging music fans to turn their players down a notch and take a five minute rest from their headphones for every hour they listen. RNID is also urging MP3 player fans to invest in in-ear filters for headphones, which cancel out background noise and reduce the need to increase volume levels.

Brian Lamb, Acting Chief Executive of RNID, said: “MP3 player manufacturers have a responsibility to make their customers aware of the dangers by printing clear warnings on packaging and linking volume controls to decibel levels.

“It’s easy to crank up the sound levels on your MP3 player to damagingly loud levels, especially on busy streets or public transport. But if people can hear the music from your headphones from just a metre away, you’re putting your hearing at risk.”

“Young people need to be educated so they can make choices about the risk of exposure to loud noise – the same as with safe sex, sun exposure and drink and drugs.”

Worryingly, the charity also found that 58 per cent of young people were unaware of any risk to their hearing from using MP3 players and 79 per cent had never seen warnings about noise levels on the packaging of MP3 players.

Romeo & Juliet, King Lear and The Long Road.

More information about captioned performances in your area visit www.stagetext.org

IBM has developed a computer program that can translate the spoken word into sign language and then sign it out using an animated digital figure, or avatar. The system, unveiled on Wednesday, could pave the way for commercial technology that allows presenters or educators to give lectures that can be accessible to the deaf when no live sign language interpreter is available.

Click on the link below to get full details of this story.

CBC news

Virtual interpreter – Time for the future!

Less than £2 per capita funding for deafness research

Research published today by the AMRC (Association of Medical Research Charities shows a worrying lack of awareness of the work of medical research charities.  A survey carried out of more than 2,000 British adults has revealed vast gaps in knowledge about medical research charities.
Deafness and deafness-related conditions

Deafness can affect one in seven of the UK population, a staggering 9 million people, yet the charity Deafness Research UK conclude approximately that less than £2 per person is affectively spent on medical research into deafness each year that’s less than the cost of a pint of beer!

Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK, said: “The survey reveals a worrying lack of public awareness about the extent to which medical research and better health care in this country relies on the research charities. It is of particular concern to Deafness Research UK because, despite the fact that 9 million people suffer hearing loss or a related condition, the funding for deafness research is woefully inadequate”

‘According to Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) figures, deafness is one of the least supported causes in the UK; we urgently need to alert people to the devastating impact of deafness, the potential that exists to find medical cures and the fact that this relies enormously on public support.’

Over half the respondents to the AMRC’s survey had donated to a medical research charity at some point, almost half said they would be more likely to give if they knew a charity funded medical research and nearly two thirds said they are interested in medical research. However, fewer than half could remember the last medical research story they had read or heard about and, when asked to name three medical research charities, the second most frequent mention (17% of those polled) was Cancer Research Campaign, a charity that has not existed under that name for over six years.

The poll also gave a picture of those most (and least) likely to donate. Londoners were significantly the least likely to support medical research whilst the top supporters were likely to be female; aged 15-34yrs; married; living in Scotland.

Vivienne Michael added: ‘It seems from the research that northerners are more generous when donating to medical research charities, with Scottish women being the most generous of all. We still have a lot of work to do to get our message across, not only in London and the Home Counties where lack of support is most apparent, but across the entire country.

For further information on deafness and deafness-related conditions, call freephone 0808 808 2222 or visit Deafness Research UK’s website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk

Imagine being admitted to hospital in France and having someone with GCSE French translate for you – it would be distressing and confusing.

A chronic shortage of sign language interpreters which means less than one qualified interpreter is available for every 100 British Sign Language users (1) is denying deaf people access to basic services and support, charity RNID is warning on the European Day of Languages (Wednesday 26 October 2007). 

Although 50,000 people use British Sign Language as their first language there are just 361 qualified interpreters in the UK, and a further 164 trainees. This means sign language users and services such as hospitals need to book interpreters months in advance, and deaf people often make do with no support or rely on communication support workers with no more than the equivalent of a GCSE in British Sign Language. 

From 999 emergencies to job interviews, interpreters provide a vital link for users of British Sign Language, many of whom don’t learn English as their first language.

RNID is calling on the Government to urgently address the shortage of trained interpreters by funding advanced level training courses for sign language interpreters.

Katherine Phipps, RNID’s director of communication services, said: “It’s shocking that deaf people often have to manage in situations like doctor’s appointments, training courses or even emergencies with either no language support, or interpreters that are only qualified to the equivalent of GCSE sign language. “Imagine being admitted to hospital in France and having someone with GCSE French translate for you – it would be distressing and confusing.

“For the UK’s 50,000 sign language users, access to fully trained interpreters is a vital lifeline. Ministers must urgently prioritise funding to train more interpreters to the highest level.”

If you come under the following you qualify for a discount on travel by train or coach;

• Do you use a hearing aid
• Are you registered as deaf
• Do you receive Attendance Allowance
• Do you receive Disability Living Allowance ( at either the higher or lower rate for getting about, or the higher or middle rate for personal care

People with other disabilites or impairments may also qualify 

Or recipients of other benifits

Just pick up a leaflet ‘Rail Travel Made Easy’ from your local railway station or go to www.disabledperson-railcard.co.uk.