Step away from the speaker, tinnitus time-bomb approaching, writes BRIAN BOYD
AT LONDON’S CAMDEN Crawl last weekend (the one which comes to Dublin this weekend) you couldn’t move without running into information supplied by Action on Hearing Loss – an action group which provides support for people with hearing loss and tinnitus. It’s a timely move as any expert in the area will tell you there is a “tinnitus time-bomb” out there because so many people are now listening to music on portable devices – phones, MP3 players etc, as well as the usual victims of live music shows.
All over Camden there were billboards, posters, ads and even beer mats drawing attention to the condition of tinnitus and there were even volunteers out on the street giving out free earplugs to those attending any of the Crawl gigs.
Rates of tinnitus have soared over the past decade and the nasty thing here is when you do eventually realise you have a problem, irreversible damage has already been caused to your hearing. It’s the live music goer’s “clap” if you will.
Some 90 per cent of people who regularly attend live music shows will experience some form of hearing damage. What begins as just a fuzzy sensation in your next ear the next day can develop into full-blown tinnitus.
If you consider that noise levels that exceed 85 decibels mean your employer is duty bound to provide you with ear protection; that the average noise level of a plane taking off beside you is 110 decibels; and the average loud rock show can get up to 120 decibels, you realise the extent of the problem.
Perversely, the problem here is one of “coolness”. Many gig-goers (particularly young men) scorn the use of earplugs as being “unrock ’n’ roll” and somewhat “sissy”. This is despite the fact that even the most satanic death metal band will be all ear-plugged up before they so much as strike a note in anger.
Action on Hearing Loss has drafted in some big names to publicise their work and the urgent need for the even the low-level gig-goer to use earplugs.
Gary Numan addresses the “macho” issue when he says: “I would often be at gigs, standing at the front next to the speakers, not wearing earplugs, thinking I’m cool and being manly, but that’s just rubbish, it’s stupid. I didn’t look after my ears and I’m in trouble – to the point that I can’t mix my music properly anymore. This is advice I wish I’d had earlier,” he says.
The biggest misconception of earplugs is that they dampen or block out the sound from the stage. They don’t. Earplugs attenuate the sound – the decibel level is reduced but without any distortion of the sound.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin speaks of only seeking help when it was too late: “I’ve had tinnitus for about 10 years and since I started protecting my ears it hasn’t got any worse – but I wish I’d thought about it earlier. Now I always use moulded filter plugs or in-ear monitors on stage”.
Plan B has it so bad that he can’t sleep without earplugs: “I wear special earplugs when I go to bed to help stop my ears from ringing” he says. “There is no doubt it’s been caused by years of being subjected to very loud decibels of music. Always wear earplugs. You’re not Superman and hearing matters!”
Whether you’re attending any of the Dublin Camden Crawl shows over the weekend – or any other musical event – now is the time to invest in a pair of earplugs.
If you need any further convincing just take a quick look at the new series of hard-hitting videos by Action on Hearing Loss which feature people’s ears being attacked by a drill or hammered with a nail. A visual portrayal of the damage you are doing to your ears at each and every gig you go to. Cover up.
Mixed bag
If anybody has four spare tickets for the Stone Roses Heaton Park show, get in touch with Brad Pitt – he’s desperate to attend but the gig is a total sell-out.
The organisers of the London Olympics have asked The Who’s management if Keith Moon would be willing to participate in a music number at the opening ceremony
