How long can I listen to loud music for?
It depends what volume you listen at. An increase of only a few decibels has a dramatic effect on the danger to hearing – this is because each increase of 3 dB(A) represents a doubling of sound energy (and halves the time you should listen for). Find out more.
How loud is too loud?
Simply put, the risk of damage to hearing is calculated on the basis of how loud and for how long. Experts agree that continued exposure to noise at or above 85 dB(A) over time can cause a hearing loss. Find out more.
Can your ears get used to loud noise? I’ve been to lots of gigs and clubs and nothing has happened to my hearing.
If you think you have toughened up your ears to loud music, or become used to loud music, it is possible you have already suffered some damage.
Find out more.
How can I look after my hearing when I am at a club or gig?
· Take regular breaks from the music and use chill out areas to give ears a rest
· Stand away from loud speakers in clubs or when at gigs/concerts
· Wear special re-usable
earplugs designed for clubs and gigs
How can I look after my hearing when I am using my MP3 player or personal stereo?
There are 4 simple things you can do to protect your hearing when you are using personal audio equipment.
What volume is safe to listen at when I use my mp3 player?
As a rule of thumb, if the music is uncomfortable for you to listen to then it's too loud, or if you can't hear external sounds when you've got your headphones on, again, it's probably too loud. Find out more.
How can I avoid turning up the volume to drown out the background noise on trains, buses, etc?
You can buy
additions for your in-ear headphones or buy noise cancelling
headphones.
My ears were ringing after I came out of a gig last night – should I be worried?
It is likely that this ringing will go away within 24 to 48 hours. If it does not you should visit your GP. Remember that
temporary ringing should act as a warning that you have exposed your ears to a higher level of noise than they are comfortable with.
How can I safeguard my baby’s ears?
Small children have tiny ears that can be more sensitive than adult ears to certain high-pitched sounds. Often noise is made up of lots of different pitches of sound, so it is difficult to say when a small child is more at risk. Therefore, it is important to look after your child’s hearing whatever age they are. Find out more.
What does the law say about noise at gigs and clubs?
There are 3 main areas of legislation which relate to 'noise' at gigs and clubs - Environmental Health, Control of Noise at Work Regulations plus Health and Safety law.
Can I use cotton wool to protect my hearing from loud music?
Cotton wool is not designed to be a hearing protector. A better solution is to use
earplugs.
Where can I get custom moulded earplugs?
Custom moulded earplugs are one of the most expensive types of earplugs because they are tailor made to fit your individual ear.
Where can I buy earplugs that fit onto the end of in-ear headphones?
Earplug additions are still hard to find on the high street so it may be easier for you to buy them
online.
Where can I buy discreet earplugs that nobody can see?
Most
re-usable earplugs can't be seen when you are wearing them.
Can professional musicians get free custom moulded earplugs on the NHS?
The Department of Health does not require local audiology services to provide earplugs. This means nobody has a legal right to them from the NHS.
Are there any grants or bursaries available for buying earplugs?
We are not aware of any
grants that are available for buying hearing protection for use outside work.
What does ‘attenuate’ mean?
Attenuation is the term used to describe the degree by which hearing protectors, such as earplugs and earmuffs, reduce sound.
Can you supply me with earplugs for our club night/event?
Unfortunately RNID cannot supply you with earplugs for your event (we have to buy earplugs from commercial companies in the same way as everyone else). It is possible to get boxes of single use, foam earplugs for
£20 for 200 pairs (approx).
How can I get a Don’t Lose The Music t-shirt?
They look good, they are only £10 plus £2 postage and packing, and best of all they
help raise awareness about the campaign.
Do you have promotional materials that I can distribute at my event/club night/gig?
Please email
dontlosethemusic@rnid.org.uk so find out what we have available (our materials change from time to time).
Can I get a jpeg of your logo for our website/publication?
Please email
dontlosethemusic@rnid.org.uk to request an image file of our logo. If you do use our logo on your website or publication, please let us know/send us a copy.
We are an earplug company. How can we get involved?
Email
dontlosethemusic@rnid.org.uk and your enquiry will be passed to our Corporate Partnerships team.
Where can you buy the pink and yellow foam earplugs you give away at events?
These earplugs are called Laser-Lites and are made by a company called Howard Leight. They are single use foam earplugs and generally sold in large quantities as a health and safety product. We’ve seen them sold online at the price of £12.50 for 40 pairs.
