The ever-increasing threat of hearing loss from loud music
One billion young at risk of hearing loss from loud music: WHO
It is kind of scary reading this article actually. Imagine 1/6 of the world population losing their hearing, that is really sad and scary. The ability to hear is a beautiful thing, but it is something that is taken for granted by most people until hearing loss kicks in.
I was watching a movie called "It's All Gone Pete Tong" a few days ago. A popular DJ who depends on his hearing for a living suddenly lose his hearing, and his life went on a downward spiral from there. There is also a similar Bollywood movie called "Soundtrack" with a similar storyline. Both stories do show how hearing is taken for granted until you lose it, though in both stories, the protagonist works hard in the end to do what they like to do best (producing music) without their hearing, pretty much like how Beethoven does it.
In the current generation where concerts are really loud (even classical music concerts can hit 120dB), and clubbing is a norm for young adults, the risk of hearing loss is greatly increased. I know clubbing and concerts are fun for many people (I agree too), but without proper care and use of earplugs, one may lose their hearing easily. A good pair of earplugs (or even custom-molded ones) should be a norm in everyone's arsenal to protect against hearing loss.
Hearing loss today is further compounded by the fact that many people blast their music through their earphones. Apple earbuds and earpods are commonplace nowadays, but I do not support the use of these earbuds as they don't block out external noise, which would cause one to listen to it at ear-splitting volumes. The rise in the number of affordable in-ear monitors is a blessing though. While enjoying better sound quality, one can block out a good amount of external noise, thus being able to music at much lower volumes. However, one must keep in mind that they themselves have to choose to play music at lower volumes too, or the problem might actually get worse.
I know I like to ramble a lot of uninteresting stuff to others, but this is a important message to everyone of my generation that I must spread. I wouldn't like to see my friends going deaf, and I believe everyone feels the same way too. Share this message, and let everyone understand how important it is to protect their hearing before it is too late.
But then again I already have hearing problems.
When someone speaks to me and there tone is low I have trouble hearing that person if background noise is present.
Higher pitched speaking voices come in clear.
I have worked in industry where noise is very loud for many years. (snow making at ski resorts)
I am a firm believer that loud constant noise promotes hearing loss.
Loud music included.
I myself have a very low talking tone.
I have noticed many people have trouble hearing me speak at normal tones with just min background noise.
The people who have trouble hearing me mostly have low tone speaking voices as well.
People with higher pitched voices, my speech is often heard easily.
Many of them do not listen to loud music or work in a loud industry.
Any studies out there on people with lower tone speaking voices more likely to have hearing loss?
Or would it be part of the brains function to ignore the sounds that coincide with my normal output?
More then just a bit curious.
It's inconvenient too
I use to work in theatre and I was a sound technician and I didn't take the advice given to me.
What the hell? Are you fucking deaf or something? I never go that high, not even when I'm purposefully trying to drown out background noise, which thankfully isn't very often.I've been to a few concerts in my life, mainly indoor ones at random bars, but I find I don't particularly enjoy how loud they are, especially with all the reverberation from being in an enclosed space. I like outdoor concerts much better, but I've only been to a couple of them.
Really I have a good number of friends who play music loud and go to clubs or concerts often, and to be honest I worry for them.
For me I am planning on get earplugs for the next concert I would attend, I am not taking any chances anymore.
He might not do so well on the battlefield with hearing like that.I didn't wear earplugs for the last concert I attended, though I'll be seeing Marilyn Manson in about a month, so I should try to get a set.
Listening through open headphones, iBuds and EarPods in public is not though (though they make good home use headphones)
The fact that the iPhone and iPod are ridiculously popular is not helping. Look at how many people are using EarPods, and I can hear what they are listening to from a lot of them.
fixed
I grew up in a glassblowing/general art studio. There are at least two (and usually three) furnaces and an air compressor running really really loud 24/7/365 and we all practically live up there because well duh, it's awesome. Everybody asks why we all shout all the time.
I have to keep background noise running all the time, I have tinnitus really bad, I can ignore it up there and if there's something putting out sound but otherwise it will drive me insane (great, now I'm aware of it again. Way to go, Puppy.)
