Posted on 19 November 2010
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People has begun a new campaign entitled Don't Lose The Music which aims to raise awareness of the issue of long-term hearing damage in young people.
Experts have discovered that exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can cause extensive damage to ears and yet music in clubs, bars, gigs, cars and even personal headphones is often played above this level. As a consequence, RNID researchers claim that the number of teenagers complaining of dull
hearing and ringing in their ears has risen sharply in recent years.
In an effort to help cut down on the damage to young people’s ears
through over exposure to loud music, the aim of the RNID's campaign is
to introduce the issue of hearing protection to young people in a
positive and relevant way.
Over exposure to excess noise can lead to tinnitus, a condition which causes sufferers to have a constant ringing in their ears, or in some cases it can lead to premature deafness. The problem seems to stem not just from the increase in social noise levels but also from young people being unaware of the steps they can take to protect their hearing. In many other walks of life there is support available for young people to make informed decisions, but this seems to be absent when regarding the dangers of over exposure to loud music. This is where Don’t Lose The Music steps in, giving guidance and support to young people so they are informed of ways to protect their hearing now, and for later in life.
Visit the campaign website at dontlosethemusic.com, where you can find information regarding the prevention of over exposure to loud music and handy tips on how to decide whether or not music is too loud.
There is also a free online hearing test available on the RNID's website.