Misdirection a major safety risk with earphones

Pedestrians listening to music through headphones and earbuds have difficulty locating the direction of traffic sounds, according to a University of Auckland study.

It found the problem was not the ability to detect sound, but the risk of miscalculating the direction of approaching cars, trains and other vehicles.

The study was conducted by audiology masters’ student Alicia Tay and Grant Searchfield, head of Auckland’s audiology research department.