From Beyonce to Banana Splits – all the amps go up to 11 these days

IT doesn’t matter whether it’s Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce or even the Banana Splits – all the amplifiers at concerts seem to go up to 11 these days.

Which means you’ve probably experienced that particular high-pitched ringing sound in your ear after a particularly loud gig or nightclub visit.

For most of us this condition, called tinnitus, fades after a day or so.

But it might come about for reasons other than a Metallica concert. And for some unlucky folk it doesn’t fade away.

As well as loud noises, there’s a thing called Meniere’s Disease, which affects the inner ear. Too much aspirin and quinine can bring it on too.

A head or ear injury can do it too, as can an iron deficiency.

It turns out that around one in 100 people have tinnitus, which severely affects their quality of life. That persistent ringing can make hearing everyday conversation difficult. Even dropping off to sleep is a bit of an ordeal. No wonder then that some people affected by tinnitus lapse into depression. It’s not an easy one to treat. Masking that sound is a good start, though. A hearing aid can amplify “normal” sounds and lessen the impact of the high-pitch ringing. Listening to a radio at a low volume can help. If someone else is sharing the bed then there are special pillows with inbuilt speakers the patient can try.

Mobile phone apps can help too — some can broadcast another type of sound, like white noise, which can help cancel out the ringing tone.

The British Tinnitus Association provide support and some very handy tips, too.