Nine out of 10 young people show signs of hearing damage after a night spent listening to loud music at a club or pub, a British survey shows.

The RNID, a charity representing nine million people who are deaf or hard of hearing, said those affected suffered from ringing in their ears or dullness of hearing and yet did nothing to prevent it.

Audiences at rock concerts can be exposed to 125 decibels - compared with 110 decibels from a pneumatic drill.

Chief executive John Low urged the Government to set a recommended noise exposure level for audiences attending music venues.

"We're all familiar with messages about practising safe sex and using sunscreen," Dr Low said. "But the lack of any guidance on loud music means this generation of music lovers could be facing a hearing loss timebomb."

More than half of the 1381 people surveyed said they visited a bar each week where they had to shout to be heard over the music.The RNID said people should consider wearing special ear plugs, take five-minute breaks from the noise and stand well clear of speakers.


- a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10452850">Reuters

What???
can you type louder I can't read either...

Serious stuff though, I have no loss amazingly after standing in front of stacks at concerts till my ears rang for days, playing guitar at 10 on full 100w stacks for years, working in factory's with no ear plugs, gun range no plugs, and still play guitar loud and crank the stereo in the car till they ring..
test at a young teen ear level... hmmm maybe thats what they mean I have hearing loss ...

nah mine is selective

hearing loss?!?
speak into this mic plugged into this stack and maybe I can hear ya
oh look! a warning on my speakers "may cause pernamate hearing damage yadda yadda yadda" that warning label is what sold me
oh hey! a warning label on my hair blow dryer not to insert my privates into it.... geeze I wouldve never thought of that
who do I sue cuz there wasnt a warning label on my Sony brand stereo when I wuz growing up?
we need more warning labels!!!!
yes, stick a warning label on RIAA CDs, "may contain PC killing rootkit, may contain limiting DRM, may contain crappy over priced music, artists may or may not recieve their 10 cent royalty..."


I think the logic of loud music = hearing damage is pretty evident to everyone and a warning from the surgeon general isnt needed

First loud bloody concert I went to gave my right ear a battering and lasted three days... Which I sometimes still hear in the form of tinnitus to this day... Recently superceded by an infection that beat my entire hearing up, I've attended hundreds of events with very loud systems but I personally think headphones do more damage.

First times ringing in the ears appears and goes ... One day, it stays for ever , no way to stop it ...
I know !!!
Headphones are not a problem , volume is , told me my "othorino" .