Going clubbing? You’ll need your earplugs just to be safe

PEOPLE should wear earplugs when going to nightclubs or concerts and use noisecancelling headphones when listening to their personal music players to avoid developing tinnitus, a charity has warned.

Action on Hearing Loss said young people were particularly at risk from damaging their hearing from listening to loud music, estimating that four million could be in danger of the effects of over-amplified music.

It said its research had found that more than half (53.4pc) of people aged 18 to 24 had experienced tinnitus, with 40pc unaware that being exposed to loud noise can lead to permanent tinnitus.

In nightclubs or concerts, noise levels are often more than 100 decibels (dB), which means individuals can only safely listen to music for 15 minutes without wearing ear plugs.

The charity’s chief executive Paul Breckell said: “Who goes to a gig or a club for 15 minutes?

“Ear plugs are the only thing that can protect you as they take off on average 15-20dB – which takes you under the 85dB level, and makes for safer listening.”

The charity said noisecancelling headphones were good for listening to music when background noise was high, such as when using buses and trains, as users did not have to increase volume to override or compete.

Tinnitus causes a ringing, hissing, buzzing or roaring sound in one or both ears where there is no external sound source. The problem affects one in every 10 adults. There is no cure.

The safe exposure time to listen to music at 85dB is eight hours. As sound intensity doubles with every rise of 3dB, the exposure time halves. For sounds of 110-120dB, like in nightclubs, even a short exposure time can cause hearing damage, the charity said.