A new study reveals that live music events are impacting the hearing of young adults, according to research conducted by Specsavers. Over 2,000 people between the ages of 18-44 participated in the survey, with nearly half experiencing some form of hearing damage. A third of those surveyed claimed that after their visit to a concert, they were less likely to attend future events due to their experiences with hearing damage. Additionally, the report demonstrates that more young people have been attending live music events, but this age group rarely wears hearing protection.
The data shows that 84% of young people surveyed have not worn earplugs for hearing protection, which raises the issue that more awareness surrounding hearing loss and hearing protection may be needed to tackle the problem. 14% of respondents in the study claimed they were “unsure” of where to acquire hearing protection. A quarter of those surveyed stated they had never considered purchasing hearing protection before an event.
As loud sound exposure can have detrimental effects on hearing health, including hearing loss and tinnitus, depending on the decibel levels, hearing damage can start as early as five minutes in a club environment. Specsavers chief audiologist Gordon Harrison suggests that “many people assume that hearing issues only happen in your later years”, but “it can affect people of all ages, and unfortunately, the longer we leave hearing issues, the worse they can become”.
Brands such as Loop and Happy Ears are now targeting young music lovers through branding, and according to a report, Gen-Z ravers “are more receptive to the idea of wearing hearing protection”, though misunderstandings surrounding the need for protection still exist. The study suggests that more awareness about hearing protection may be necessary to reduce hearing damage among young people during live music events.
Mixmag’s deep dive into young people embracing ear protection can be read here. Belle Richardson is Mixmag’s Digital Intern, and she can be followed on Twitter
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