International Noise Awareness Day - 29th April 09, UK

Main Category: Hearing / Deafness
Also Included In: Ear, Nose and Throat;  Public Health
Article Date: 29 Apr 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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With International Noise Awareness Day (29th April) approaching, the RNID has released shocking statistics showing that 90 percent of people have experienced the first signs of serious hearing damage after just ONE night out. There are 9 million people in the UK that suffer from hearing damage from excessive noise and another 4 million at risk. ACS (Advanced Communication Solutions) a dedicated hearing conservation company and Ministry of Sound has come up with a unique way to reach out to people and help prevent this.

Loud music at clubs, gigs, concerts and festivals can result in a serious noise hangover, causing ringing in the ears and dull sound, especially if intoxicated, making the ears even more susceptible to damage from excessive noise.

In other areas of public health; diet, sex, smoking, alcohol, drugs and sunbathing, the public has been provided with information that allows them to make an informed choice. ACS and world famous nightclub and brand, Ministry of Sound, believes today's generation has the right to know they are putting their hearing at risk and what they can do to protect themselves. To mark International Noise Awareness Day on 29th April, ACS and Ministry of Sound have joined forces to offer a preventative to hearing damage; The ER-20 Hearing Protectors.

The Ministry of Sound & ACS ER-20's are ready to wear, one size fits all, high fidelity earplugs that replicate the ear's natural frequency response, meaning they protect the ear against dangerously high levels of noise, but do not muffle voices and the surrounding environment - enabling the user to protect their ears, but still fully enjoy the music and atmosphere around them.

Andy Shiach, founder of ACS, who's own hearing was seriously impaired from loud noise as a teenager said; "We are definitely not saying stop going to clubs or gigs, or that the music should be turned down so low that it's no longer enjoyable, all we are trying to do is help make people aware of the dangers and give them the option to take easy and affordable precautions to prevent hearing problems in the future. Having the support from Ministry of Sound will hopefully strengthen the message that it's not un-cool to look after your hearing."

Ministry of Sound commented; "We have always taken pride in offering the best clubbing experience and quality of sound, so teaming up with ACS, who works by the same ethic, made perfect sense. We want people to enjoy clubbing and listening to music safely, the ER-20 is an affordable and effective way for them to do this."

David Baguley, PhD MBA from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust advises; "When at a loud gig or club, try going outside for a breather or finding a quiet spot for 10 minutes out of every hour. Cut down on alcohol, smoking and drugs, as all of these actually make the ears more susceptible to noise damage. Intoxication lowers the ears threshold to cope with high volumes, so it's essential to wear good quality ear plugs."

International Superstar DJ, Eddie Halliwell swears by hearing protection; "DJing in clubs leaves me at the mercy of very loud sound systems, which in time would inevitably seriously damage my hearing. Hearing protection combats this problem, reducing the dangerous frequencies that I am exposed to, making the environment I perform in more workable. I would never even enter a club, let along DJ without them. They are essential."

Ministry of Sound & ACS Hearing Protectors come in a funky yellow leather pouch and last a lifetime. They cost £14.99 and are available to order from 29th April at http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk or http://www.ministryofsound.com.

For more information on hearing protection, visit http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk

Source
International Noise Awareness Day

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