Students’ device is music to ears of doctors

12th April 2002, 1:00am

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Students’ device is music to ears of doctors

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/students-device-music-ears-doctors
AUSTRIA

THE growing number of young people who are suffering hearing difficulties as a result of loud music has prompted a group of Austrian teenagers to come up with their own solution to the problem.

The youngsters have invented a unique device that they say could save the hearing of thousands of young people.

Three electronics students from the technical high school in Pinkafeld have designed what they call the Audiodosimeter. This emits a warning signal when noise levels become too high. The device, which has a small microphone, is fixed on to an arm band.

The three - two boys and a girl - decided to act because, over the past few years, experts have been concerned with the dramatic increase in premature hearing loss, especially among the young. Loud music in discos, home stereo systems, concerts and even high noise levels in the workplace, all contribute to permanent hearing damage.

The director of the project, Dr Thomas Walla from Novatech Research in Vienna, confirmed that the device would help to reduce the number of young people with damaged hearing.

“Between 22 and 25 per cent of youngsters have permanent ear damage, which they are unaware of,” said Dr Walla.

“There are smoke detectors for fire, carbon dioxide detectors for internal emissions, even motion detectors for alarm systems, so why not a sound detector for loud noises.”

Now the three young inventors, Eva-Maria Hanzl, Wolfgang Buchegger and Martin Pongrazt, all aged 19, are hoping their backers at Novatech Research will take the design to its final stage. It was originally a school graduation project.

The invention comes at a time when discussions are also under way in Austria’s parliament to regulate the level of noise allowed in discos.

“If a law is set, the Audiodosimeter can be used to ensure it is adhered to,” said Ms Hanzl.

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