CAMPAIGN TARGETS HEARING RISK AT MUSIC VENUES

ON 3 MARCH the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) announced a partnership with the WHO’s Make Listening Safe campaign: an initiative to increase the awareness of avoidable risks to hearing and promote the WHO’s global standards on safe listening at venues and events.

According to WHO, 1.1 billion young people between 12 and 35 years of age are at risk of permanent hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices in a recreational setting: not in the workplace.

The NTIA’s CEO Michael Kill commented: “Losing the ability to listen to music is inconceivable, especially given that I have based my career on music and night time economy. Thousands of people across our sector suffer from hearing loss, and if we continue to dismiss the wider impacts thousands more will follow.

“When asked if we would like to work with WHO as part of our wider UK project to educate people on hearing loss and the potential impacts and the methods of protection, we grabbed the opportunity with both hands.”

A report from the Commission on Hearing Loss in 2014 calculated the cost of hearing loss to the UK economy at £24.8bn, which will potentially rise to £38.6bn by 2031. That is reduced economic output due to loss of productivity and unemployment due to hearing loss, and does not include the cost of healthcare, which is calculated at £450m annually to the NHS.

In addition, a paper published by The Lancet in 2000 proposed that hearing loss is the biggest modifiable factor in a person’s life course that will increase the risk of dementia.

Consultant audiologist Robert Shepheard explained: “Hearing loss and tinnitus is extremely common with people working in and enjoying musicrich environments. It is sometimes not fully understood the irreversible impact listening to loud sound can have on many aspects of our health. As audiologist for the NTIA it is so encouraging to see the industry taking such a proactive step to maintain the health of everyone involved.“

One in six people are impacted by hearing loss in the UK and the aim of the campaign, alongside partners and key stakeholders, is to reduce that number across the entertainment sector through awareness and education, so that people can listen to music safely within the workplace, social or personal environments.

Biff Mitchell of Glastonbury & Beautiful Days Festival said: “It’s time we went further than an earplug dispenser and a set of ear defenders on a sign as the only education given to staff in venues and concerts on the dangers of long exposure to loud music. In over 30 years working in the live sector I have seen people from all parts of the industry suffering from hearing problems and for some resulting in mental health problems – it’s time to educate.” q