Young music lovers are being warned about the risks of permanent hearing damage from loud noise at concerts and festivals. Around one in 10 people in the UK suffer from tinnitus, a condition often linked to exposure to excessive noise.
Cardiff-based audiologist Sonja Jones said it was vital for people to wear hearing protection at loud events. She noted that ear plugs, which are offered by many venues, are sometimes viewed as 'uncool' by younger audiences.
Musician Nathaniel Ernest, 26, from Cardiff, developed tinnitus after attending a gig in 2011 without ear protection. He said the ringing in his ears initially came and went after previous concerts, but this time it persisted. 'After about a year I thought this is permanent now. This is going to suck forever,' he said.
Mr Ernest described how the condition affected his sleep and made him reluctant to go to loud places. Even a trip to the pub became difficult because he struggled to hear conversations. Over time, he said he became used to the high-pitched ringing.
A number of venues in Wales, including the Motorpoint Arena and Tramshed in Cardiff and Venue Cymru in Llandudno, now offer hearing protection on request. Ms Jones recommended filtered ear plugs, saying they allow people to hear the band clearly while reducing the volume.
