Off clubbing? Wear ear plugs or risk tinnitus

Fifteen minutes in a nightclub is plenty if you want to avoid getting tinnitus, a charity for deafness has warned. Paul Breckell, chief executive of Action on Hearing Loss, said ear plugs are the only thing that can protect people’s ears from loud music.

Noise levels are often over 100db, he warned, adding: “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.”

Research by the charity found 53 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 had experienced tinnitus, with 40 per cent unaware that being exposed to loud noise can lead to permanent tinnitus.