What you need to know about IEC/UL/EN62368-1 2018 Safety Standard HearAngel® What you need to know about IEC/UL/EN62368-1 2018 Safety Standard HearAngel® is the hearing safeguarding technology for wireless headphone users who want to listen intelligently

Why is the new standard being brought in? Our ears are delicate, but it is not obvious when we are damaging them Very loud sounds and large sound doses damage our hearing Few people are exposed to very large sounds these days, however many people are exposed to large sound doses Biggest source of large sound dose for billions of people is from headphone use Exponential growth in digital content is driving headphone use and increases in users average sound doses 68% of headphone users* are already aware of dangers and many seek information and protection *University College London student survey for the company

Background to the new standard Origin of standard is United Nations (UN) World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 1.1 billion people at risk of hearing loss report ( https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/ear-care/en/ ) in February 2015 WHO worked with International Telecommunications Union (ITU) who have published recommendations for safe listening practice, ITU-T H870 201808 ( https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-H.870-201808-I ). In November 2018 European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), announced new safety standard EN62368-1: 2018 which will be adopted on 20th December 2020 in Europe and the USA and in other territories later. The standard moves the regulation of acoustic safety towards the WHO and ITU’s objectives and recommends manufacturers move to dose-monitoring to protect users from hearing damage as soon as possible.​​

In 2 years all mobile phone handsets will have to have safeguarding features In November 2018 the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), announced that the EN62368-1 2018 standard will come into force on 20th December 2020 This standard has been adopted by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) from that date The audio element of the standard covers mobile phone handsets It gives mobile phone handset manufacturers a choice to provide either: Option 1. Simple user warning at a proscribed volume setting on the handset Or Option 2. Enhanced protection using software to calculate the users sound dose from headphones and present them with information and messages, along with automatic protection when they choose

Option 1. – Simple warning at a proscribed volume setting All smartphones in Europe have the following warning triggered by the volume setting: ‘Listening at high volume for a long time may damage your hearing. Tap OK to allow the volume to be increased above the safe level’ This warning is based only on the volume setting and likely the earbuds provided with the phone It doesn’t take any account of the users listening period or the energy of their content or the use of alternative headphones If adhered to content is inaudible in common listening situations The warnings are generally ignored As a result headphone users listen too loud for too long and are at risk of permanent hearing damage Hearing damage is permanent Creeps up on you, when you know you have it is too late With many disorders you take measures to restore your health Lose your hearing and it is gone - No solution Everyone is listening to loud too long

Option 2. – Enhanced protection providing sound dose based information, messaging and protection Providing users with relevant, individual information is understood to change their behaviour Standard requires the individual’s sound dose from headphones is monitored When proscribed and/or user defined sound dose levels are reached the user is given information so they can make informed decisions. e.g. The user is provided with information on how long they can listen at the current level to the current material. They are then able to plan their listening The user may also choose dose based automatic protection which will gradually intervene should they be in danger of exceeding the recommended sound dose The standard also includes enhanced protection for children

HearAngel® is a proven low risk Option 2. solution HearAngel® is ready to license to handset manufacturers A consumer app developed following 8 years experience delivering hearing safeguarding technologies to professional headphone users including The BBC HearAngel® meets 95% of IEC/UL/EN62368-1 2018 requirement Variances are readily accommodated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAIDBsgDbkM&t=39s

Who are HearAngel®? HearAngel® is the consumer brand of LimitEar Ltd, a UK technology company founded 8 years ago LimitEar is owned by its shareholders, the directors own the majority The company has been granted and applied for a number of international patents The company is advised by Professor Tony Wright, Emeritus Professor of Otolaryngology at University College London Contact Stephen Wheatley, sw@hearangel.com +44 7836 690514

Handset Manufacturers HearAngel® Handset Manufacturers What you need to know about IEC/UL/EN62368-1 2018 Safety Standard HearAngel® is the hearing safeguarding technology for wireless headphone users who want to listen intelligently