As Tinnitus Awareness Week approaches (February 3rd – 9th, 2025), it’s important to understand how loud sounds can affect our hearing.
It is a condition that affects nearly 1 in 7 of the adult population.
What is it? It is the sensation of hearing a sound when there is no external source for that sound. Some people hear it as a buzzing, some as a ringing, whistling, hissing or other noises. It can come and go in some individuals; in others it can be heard 24/7.
People vary in their reaction with some experiencing only mild, temporary symptoms, perhaps on intermittent occasions and experiencing tinnitus as a mild disturbance. For others, particularly those who hear it more loudly and perhaps 24/7, it can be more debilitating. This is particularly the case if they are unable to habituate to the sound.
Tinnitus UK can provide advice to tinnitus sufferers www.tinnitus.org.uk .
If you think you may have tinnitus then speak initially to your GP who would arrange for you to be tested. There may be many possible causes of tinnitus but one of the more-common ones is exposure to loud noises, especially repeatedly or over a period of time.
One particular piece of advice that is very important is that if you live or work in a noisy environment, buy and use some ear plugs. If you are exposed to high noise levels at work then speak to your employer. They should provide hearing protection and may also need to have a noise assessment carried out by a professional. Look after your hearing: once it has been damaged you cannot recover it.
Your hearing is important. When it’s loud use ear defenders.
At Acoustic South East, we offer Workplace Noise Assessment services that check noise levels in the workplace. By measuring how loud the noise is and where it comes from, we can help people and businesses make changes to protect their hearing.
If you work in a noisy place—like around machinery or other loud sounds—consider asking your employers if they have had a Workplace Noise Assessment carried out. Our friendly team can help find ways to lower the noise and make your environment safer and better for everyone.
Taking care of your hearing is really important.
If you want to learn more about our workplace noise assessment services and how they can help you, please check out our website or get in touch with us!
