Can Music Venues Help Science Save Your Hearing?

Be honest: when you hear the words "unsafe listening practices", your first reaction is to switch off entirely; however, the reality is that noise-induced hearing loss among the general adult population is a steadily growing problem.

Thankfully, though, before an entire generation succumbs to early onset tinnitus or having to wear earmuffs on the dance floor, the HEARing Cooperative Research Centre (HEARing CRC) has announced a pilot study in an effort to determine how Australian live music venues can reduce noise exposure and better look after punters, performers and venue staff's hearing.

"In the coming months, HEARing CRC researchers, working with Music Victoria and live music venue owners, will carefully measure noise levels at gigs and gain input from patrons and performers on their experiences," HEARing CRC researcher Dr Elizabeth Beach said.

"The data will then be analysed, the main noise-exposure risks identified, and in consultation with venue owners, a practical noise-reduction package will be developed that can be easily implemented in venues across Australia.

"We don't know exactly what the HEARsmart noise-reduction package will entail, but some of the likely measures are recommendations on venue modifications to reduce reverberation, providing quieter chill-out spaces for patrons to take a break, or working with the sound engineers to produce sound at a safer level, while still being enjoyable for patrons."

The rising concern over noise-induced, and otherwise preventable, hearing loss comes as a growing number of people spend more time exposed to more intense noise during their leisure time, from constant headphone use to frequent clubbing.

According to the World Health Organisation, 360 million people around the world suffer from hearing loss, while HEARing CRC chief executive Robert Cowan said that the ratio of adults in Australia likely to experience the affliction is likely to reach one in four by 2050, while "the proportion of younger people with an acquired hearing loss is steadily growing".

The study is supported by Music Victoria, the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), the Deafness Forum Australia and Vicdeaf. It is jointly funded by the Deafness Foundation Victoria as part of the HEARing CRC's HEARsmart hearing-loss prevention initiative.

For more information, see HEARsmart's website.