A new study from Specsavers audiologists has revealed that nearly half (42%) of young adults (18-44 year olds) have experienced some form of hearing loss at some point in their life.
Based on a survey of 2,151, over one in ten (11.8%) respondents aged between 18-44 said they attend live music events at least once every three months, with over half (52%) admitting to either having had ringing ears or muffled hearing afterwards.
Because of this, nearly a third (30%) of participants have said that they’re less likely to attend a live music event in the future because of this.
However, the research revealed that the younger generation (18-44) also aren’t taking precautions to protect their hearing at these events, such as wearing hearing protection, potentially leading to issues in the future.
Four in five (84%) of the panel aged 18-44 that attended live music events regularly admitted to never wearing hearing protection, with 14% saying they’re unsure of the benefits or where to get them from.
While there are many forms of hearing protection available, nearly a quarter (22.4%) of people have never considered purchasing any form of hearing protection before any music event.
According to Statista, the live music industry is expected to reach $30 billion in revenue over 2024, the biggest year in history for live music events:
“The 2024 music industry will be bigger than ever, meaning more of a reason to invest in some hearing protection before any live music event. It’s a great way of protecting your hearing, stopping any excessive noise getting through your auditory system and causing damage to the hair cells that help us hear. There’s no need for any big over-the-head headphones anymore, as earbuds can be extremely hidden.”
“Many people assume that hearing issues only happen in your later years. However, it can affect people of all ages and unfortunately, the longer we leave hearing issues, the worse they can become,” said Specsavers chief audiologist, Gordon Harrison. “It’s so important to look after your hearing, especially when at festivals, gigs, concerts or anywhere just in general where there’s loud music or noise. Wearing hearing protection can really help, and having regular hearing checks can help identify and manage hearing loss symptoms and minimise any long-term impact.”
*Specsavers survey was done in March 2024, and taken by 2,151 people between the ages of 18 and 75+.
Source: Specsavers
