It has been announced today that the Australian rock band AC/DC are postponing the rest of their US tour after singer, Brian Johnson, was warned he is going deaf.
The band posted a statement on their website saying doctors had advised Johnson, who has been lead singer with AC/DC since 1980, to stop touring immediately or "risk total hearing loss".
Unfortunately Brian Johnson isn’t the only star to suffer from the effects of being exposed to loud music. Producer and DJ, Mark Ronson, has had tinnitus for over 10 years. Tinnitus, which is commonly described as a ringing or buzzing in the ears, is experienced by at least 1 in 10 of the UK population – that’s around 6 million people. And at present there is no cure.
Any sound that is loud enough and lasts long enough can damage hearing and lead to hearing loss. A sound's loudness is measured in decibels (dB). Normal conversation is about 60 dB, a lawn mower is about 90 dB, and a loud rock concert is about 120 dB - with some concerts recording levels of almost 140 dB.
Long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. Around the world 30-50 million people are exposed to dangerous noise levels every day. But the effects of noise are often underestimated because the damage can take place gradually over time.
What can you do to help prevent hearing loss?
Noise induced hearing loss is almost entirely preventable if you use hearing protection. There are a wide range of specialised hearing protection products available for those that play and/or listen to loud music on a regular basis.
Arlington Laboratories specialises in making custom-fit hearing protection for musicians and those that want to enjoy superior sound quality safely. To find out more go to Arlington Laboratories' website or call 01635 569346.
Take care of your hearing - if you are exposed to high risk noise make sure you get your hearing checked at least once a year.
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