Protect your ears from noise induced hearing loss 

Listening to music is a wonderful way to spend your free time. However, it is important to not expose your ears to harsh noises for extensive periods of time to protect your hearing against noise induced hearing loss

1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices, including smartphones, and exposure to damaging levels of sound at noisy entertainment venues.

 As they go about their daily lives doing what they enjoy, more and more young people are placing themselves at risk of hearing loss,” notes Dr Etienne Krug, WHO Director for the Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention. 

“They should be aware that once you lose your hearing, it won’t come back. Taking simple preventive actions will allow people to continue to enjoy themselves without putting their hearing at risk.
World health organisation
How can noise damage our hearing?  

Noise Induced Hearing Loss is caused by the damage and eventual death of these hair cells. Unlike bird and amphibian hair cells, human hair cells don’t grow back. They are gone for good.

Tinnitus can be triggered by a number of different things, but it is most often caused by loud noise that damages the delicate cells of the inner ear. Tinnitus may subside over time, but can sometimes continue constantly or occasionally throughout a person’s life. Hearing loss and tinnitus can occur in one or both ears. 

 
Protecting your ears from noise damage

Wearing moulded filter plugs are ideal for people who want to be protected from loud music exposure, but still hear the true sound and frequency range of the music or their instrument. Each ear is unique so having a custom-made mould of each ear gives you the ultimate fit for ear comfort and noise isolation. 

There are three levels of sound protection; ER-9  is recommended for light noise exposure and vocalists or classical musicians providing an average of 9dB protection. ER-15 is ideal for most musicians and provides protection at 15-dB. ER-25 is ideal for rock musicians or very loud concerts. 

Musicians with tinnitus caused by loud music

"Looking after your ears is unfortunately something you don't think about until there's a problem. I've had tinnitus for about 10 years, and since I started protecting my ears it hasn't got any worse (touch wood). But I wish I'd thought about it earlier. Now we always use moulded filter plugs, or in-ear monitors, to try and protect our ears." Chris Martin

Other musicians with Tinnitus include, Will.I.Am, Barbra Streisand, Plan B, Eric Clapton, Bono and many more.