Technology Warns Educators and Students When Volume Exceeds Appropriate Sound Levels

As handheld audio devices are showing promise they can enhance teaching and learning, classroom educators are choosing to incorporate these computing devices into their curriculum.  To help educators and students combat unsafe listening practices, Califone International, Inc., introduces two products: the Sound Alert Monaural Headphone and the Sound Alert Monaural Jackbox.

Many studies have found that irreparable hearing loss can result from high levels of noise over extended periods of time and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders asserts that more than 30 million Americans are exposed to hazardous sound levels on a regular basis. Providing educators with a tool for managing students’ listening habits, the Sound Alert Headphone displays a bright red warning light when the volume is louder than the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)-recommended 85 decibel level.

(Pictured from left to right 2985PG, 2924AVG, 1285G and 1285G-08)

“Research has shown that hearing loss can lead to many problems for students, including difficulty with academic achievement in language arts, vocabulary, arithmetic, and problem solving,” said Tim Ridgway, Vice President of Marketing for Califone. “We are dedicated to developing products that will help educators in guiding students to make the best choices for their health, and for students to recognize and change their own habits.”

With Califone support for the ASHA-sponsored Our America: Tuned In Today…But Tuned Out Tomorrow? campaign (www.listentoyourbuds.org), the company is encouraging the responsible use of personal audio technology and recommends to educators that if sound can be heard coming from a student’s headphone, the volume is too loud and the student is at risk of experiencing hearing loss.

Based on the rugged and durable Califone Monaural Headphone, the Sound Alert Monaural Headphone can be used with personal playback devices (CD and MP3 players) and in group listening centers, and in ELL, ELD and other language learning activities. The headphone also can be used as a normal headphone without charging the battery, but the warning LED feature will not operate. Saving power by shutting off when no audio signal is present for 60 seconds, the headphone will power on automatically when there is an audio signal present, giving users a high return on their investment.

In addition, Califone is offering the 10-position Sound Alert Monaural Jackbox, which allows educators to monitor the volume level of up to ten attached headphones and to set the sound level to under the ASHA-recommended 85 decibel level. As with the headphone, the jackbox with work as a normal jackbox without charging the battery, but the warning LED feature will not operate.

With the increased reliance on small group reading activities, Califone is also introducing an 8-position Sound Alert Listening Center which includes the namesake jackbox with the company’s new gray monaural (2924AVG) headphones.

Designed to meet strict standards of strength and durability, the Sound Alert Monaural Headphone and the Sound Alert Monaural Jackbox each come with the unique one-year Califone warranty, covering school, library and government use, a guarantee typically not available for products purchased from consumer electronics stores.