Apple Facing Lawsuit After AirPods Allegedly Ruptured Child's Eardrums With Amber Alert

[Hogswarts]

I'd say even without headphones, the alert sounds are way too loud.

 

[neuropsychguy]

I doubt an open style ear bud created enough force to rupture the eardrum. Any force would simply blow out the opening as these are not sealed. I am sure Apple's lawyers will destroy their claim in short order.

This will be settled out of court. This doesn't mean Apple will be a push-over with the case but unless there is clear evidence the family is lying, the best course for Apple is a settlement.

It's within the realm of possibility that the alert damaged the child's hearing. Would it damage the hearing of most people? No, but this child could have had other factors that intersected with the loud sound and caused the problems.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I've had to turn off Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts due to how buggy and misused they are. For example, I've had the same amber alert delivered to be every 5 minutes for an hour.

Just this week, Los Angeles residents received an evacuation order alert that was supposed to be just an internal test. I've lost all trust in the system.

Annoying for sure but this isn’t a problem with Apple this would have happened and android device regardless next sign that time for a parent to put headphones AirPods Pro inside a child’s ears on infants ears and not disabled mobile network or lower the volume in the settings seems like an end-user IT error

 

[deevey]

The power required to make 165 dB is too much for tiny AirPods to achieve so without cause secondary damage to the units.

There is more to this story.

If it was regular Airpods I cant imagine its even possible to get near even 115db being open ear design, the pro's perhaps.

But factor in certain frequencies in short bursts, perhaps they would be capable of much higher levels.

AirPods Pros can do about 110 to 115 db SPL max which is about the same as standing 6 ft from a shotgun blast (155 db)

A shotgun @ 6ft is ALOT louder than that. 115db is about the same as a gunshot @ 100ft

110db is about the same as being at a reasonably loud concert or nightclub in the middle of the dancefloor.

At a guess I'd say the kid had sensitive hearing, or the frequencies for the amber alert did the damage.

All that said, I don't believe that any kind of alert should be played at a level that is much, or any higher than the volume already set by the listener.

 

[Pixelryan]

No child taken by a stranger has ever been rescued by an amber alert. I turn them off.

However this is a clear bug. But…the described symptoms sound actually ridiculous for a large volume which likely is not as loud as things normally experienced in the environment. But it’s a big to have the alert have a different volume than settings and apple is going to pay a few million for it.

That is just wrong, there have been over a thousand kids saved, what are you talking about?
Source: https://amberalert.ojp.gov/statistics

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Annoying for sure but this isn’t a problem with Apple this would have happened and android device regardless next sign that time for a parent to put headphones AirPods Pro inside a child’s ears on infants ears and not disabled mobile network or lower the volume in the settings seems like an end-user IT error

Alerts playing louder than the system volume is not user error. It’s a design flaw.

 

[blueflame]

Apple's AirPods ruptured the eardrums of a 12-year-old boy in 2020 when a loud Amber Alert was issued, according to a lawsuit filed against Apple in California (via Law360).

The child, identified as B.G. in the filing, was watching a movie on Netflix on his iPhone in 2020 while wearing AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro were allegedly set at a low volume, but an Amber Alert sounded without warning and the high-pitched noise damaged B.G.'s eardrums.

The lawsuit claims that the Amber Alert "tore apart" B.G.'s eardrum, damaged his cochlea, and caused injuries to his hearing. He has since suffered from bouts of dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, and nausea, and there is permanent hearing loss in his right ear, requiring him to wear a hearing aid.

Apple is accused of producing "defective" AirPods that do not automatically reduce the volume of alerts or equalize notification and alert volumes. The lawsuit faults Apple for failing to include warnings about the potential issue, and claims that Apple was aware of the alleged design defects.

The lawsuit is seeking damages for B.G. and his parents, who are suffering from serious emotional stress caused by the AirPods incident. It asks for "punitive damages in amounts that would punish Defendants for their conduct and which would deter other technology companies from engaging in such misconduct in the future."

There have been other social media complaints about the noise of Amber Alerts when wearing AirPods. Amber Alerts are designed to catch the attention of iPhone owners, causing devices to play a loud sound and vibrate. Reports on the internet suggest that the Amber Alert sound is indeed very loud when played through AirPods, even when those AirPods are set at a reasonable volume.

Amber Alerts can be turned off in the Settings app by opening up the Notifications section, scrolling to the bottom, and tapping on the toggle to deactivate the alert. There are also options for turning off Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts, though it is worth noting that alerts cannot be disabled in all countries.

The full AirPods complaint can be read on Scribd for those interested.

Article Link: Apple Facing Lawsuit After AirPods Allegedly Ruptured Child's Eardrums With Amber Alert

Can confirm something similar has happened to me on more than one occasion. I have actually stopped using headphone because of it.
2x, its connected to ky headphones with such a loud volume. That i got dizzy and started to go black. It only lasted a second. But i know it damaged my hearing.
very scary indeed

 

[FoxyKaye]

I have to ask have there been any other instances of something like this ever occurring?

We didn't have this kind of thing when I was a child, but I will say that I've had permanent tinnitus and hearing loss in my right ear since I was in second grade, and I can pinpoint the exact moment in time when it began: another girl came up next to me acting like she wanted to whisper something to me, and then screamed as loud as she could directly into my ear. Her name was Manya. So, I do believe this could happen given the annoyingly high volume and behavior of these alerts on the iPhone (I've had mine turned off for years). The rest of the hearing loss... Well, when your parents say, "Don't listen to that damn Walkman so loud," they do kinda mean it, lol.

 

[IamTimCook]

They need to allow people the option to turn the low battery indicator off. Hyperacusis is real problems for many people and that alert is a major trigger.

The low battery notification sound is extremely annoying and way too loud. If you’re just sitting in silence with the noise cancellation ON the sudden blast can be jolting.
It needs to be at the same bel you have set for audio.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

The threshold for pain is 120dBSPL, the threshold for permanent damage due to trauma is 140dBSPL. What dB do the airpods max out at? Can't be more than 105-110dB I would assume.

Vertigo as the result of sound (i.e...tullio phenomenon) is typically only seen with a dehiscent semi-circular canal, which doesn't become dehiscent due to noise exposure.

This sounds a bit fishy.

 

[dwaltwhit]

To burst an ear drum requires over 165db. I call absolute BS on this story. Parents just trying to make a buck.

The noise intensity to rupture an eardrum would have to be very loud, usually 165 decibels or more. This would correspond to the sound intensity of a gunshot at close range, fireworks or extremely loud music. Although the eardrum will heal, damage to the inner ear is often permeant.

Is that true for 12 year olds? I honestly don't know.

 

[umbilical]

I can't find those alerts on my iOS iphone, is due I don't live in USA? where are located? I don't see anything on notifications.

 

[deevey]

Specifically "According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should not be exposed to sounds with a peak sound pressure level above 140 dB. For children, the level is reduced to 120 dB."

Which would be extremely difficult and unlikely for the Airpods to get to. Even really LOUD sealed headphones like the HD25 will blow apart pretty fast at 120db. Airpods could never be classed as being overly loud IMHO.

I'd be interested to see if there was damage to the Airpods and can those kind levels be replicated.

 

[HiVolt]

The threshold for pain is 120dBSPL, the threshold for permanent damage due to trauma is 140dBSPL. What dB do the airpods max out at? Can't be more than 105-110dB I would assume.

Does it matter that the ear canal is sealed with the rubber tips? The alert is amazingly obnoxious and piercing.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Does it matter that the ear canal is sealed with the rubber tips? The alert is amazingly obnoxious and piercing.

No, SPL (sound pressure level) is measured at the ear drum. Sealing the ear just means you have less sound leaking, therefore you don't need as strong of a driver in the headphone. How the 140-160dBSPL hits the ear drum is irrelevant.

 

[gpwdeux]

To burst an ear drum requires over 165db. I call absolute BS on this story. Parents just trying to make a buck.

The noise intensity to rupture an eardrum would have to be very loud, usually 165 decibels or more. This would correspond to the sound intensity of a gunshot at close range, fireworks or extremely loud music. Although the eardrum will heal, damage to the inner ear is often permeant.

Well, that's not exactly true. The tympanic membrane is ruptured or torn due to pressure differences which is why you see it most commonly in underwater incidents where I can guarantee you, it is nowhere near 165 decibels. If the kid wearing them had sinus congestion blocking the canals, coupled with a tight fitting pair of buds, a pressure difference to tear the thin membrane could be accomplished with way less than 165 decibels.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Alerts playing louder than the system volume is not user error. It’s a design flaw.

Are you absolutely certain that this alert is playing in headphones louder than system volume? Have you actually tested this with Amber alert have you checked your system volume? Again I’m not saying system volume I’m saying the specific lower volume that can be set in settings.

I should’ve been more specific iOS settings, sounds and haptics, under headphone audio headphone safety there the decibels can be lowered reduce loud sounds enable on.

Still sets of parents responsibility to look into these things I really feel sorry for the child’s ear drum that’s erratically damage for the rest of the child’s life yes but this isn’t just an Apple issue it is all phones that have andStill the parents are responsibility to look into these things I really feel served for the child’s eardrum that’s irrepical damage for the rest of the child’s life yes but this isn’t just an Apple issue it is all phones have this and again the parent should’ve been looking or even called Apple support just to inquire believe me an apple is just the easy way out where is the responsibility from the parent?

 

[OneMike]

I turned off alerts during peak Covid times. Once we started getting multiple daily curfew alerts I just couldn’t any longer

 

[jav6454]

If it was regular Airpods I cant imagine its even possible to get near even 115db being open ear design, the pro's perhaps.

But factor in certain frequencies in short bursts, perhaps they would be capable of much higher levels.

dB measures sounds regardless of which frequency was used.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Well, that's not exactly true. The tympanic membrane is ruptured or torn due to pressure differences which is why you see it most commonly in underwater incidents where I can guarantee you, it is nowhere near 165 decibels. If the kid wearing them had sinus congestion blocking the canals, coupled with a tight fitting pair of buds, a pressure difference to tear the thin membrane could be accomplished with way less than 165 decibels.

There's a difference between rupturing your eardrum due to a physical force (like in diving) or getting slapped in the head and one from purely sound itself.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I've had to turn off Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts due to how buggy and misused they are. For example, I've had the same amber alert delivered to be every 5 minutes for an hour.

Just this week, Los Angeles residents received an evacuation order alert that was supposed to be just an internal test. I've lost all trust in the system.

I turned them off as soon as I got the first one. They're annoying.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Are you absolutely certain that this alert is playing in headphones louder than system volume? Have you actually tested this with Amber alert have you checked your system volume? Again I’m not saying system volume I’m saying the specific lower volume that can be set in settings.

I should’ve been more specific iOS settings, sounds and haptics, under headphone audio headphone safety there the decibels can be lowered reduce loud sounds enable on.

Still sets of parents responsibility to look into these things I really feel sorry for the child’s ear drum that’s erratically damage for the rest of the child’s life yes but this isn’t just an Apple issue it is all phones that have andStill the parents are responsibility to look into these things I really feel served for the child’s eardrum that’s irrepical damage for the rest of the child’s life yes but this isn’t just an Apple issue it is all phones have this and again the parent should’ve been looking or even called Apple support just to inquire believe me an apple is just the easy way out where is the responsibility from the parent?

Yes, it’s a known topic that government alerts ignore any of your volume settings. Both the system volume and ringer/alert volume in settings. The same thing happens with CarPlay as well.

iPods used to have a max volume limit back in the day. A slider for max headphone volume would be sufficient for this case assuming the government alerts don’t ignore that too.

 

[kingtj1971]

Fixed in next firmware update. Ha!
Earbuds of any brand are a prime cause of creating impacted earwax that requires a trip to an ENT doctor to pick or suck it out.

If you care about the health of your ear canals and don’t fancy a trip to an otolaryngologist — don’t use earbuds of any brand.

IMO, you're not wrong! I noticed, many years ago, that wearing earbuds seemed to contribute to wax build-up in my ears.

 

[vipergts2207]

That news link includes the firm whose suing Apple and case/parties specifics that wasn't mentioned on OP.

My statement was in reference to your original comment, which you subsequently edited out entirely. The comment where you complained about wanting more Apple hardware and software news and complained about this article as well as two others.

 

[machpost]

I've had to turn off Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts due to how buggy and misused they are. For example, I've had the same amber alert delivered to be every 5 minutes for an hour.

Just this week, Los Angeles residents received an evacuation order alert that was supposed to be just an internal test. I've lost all trust in the system.

Not to mention when one person in the room on one carrier gets the alert, when someone else with a different carrier doesn't get one at all. The system is terribly unreliable and definitely should NOT be relied upon for real emergencies.