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"Earplugs should be available in dance clubs as
readily as condoms", deafness campaigners
suggested in a report published by The Royal National
Institute for Deaf People, warning that young
people were unaware of the damage they might be
doing to their hearing.
Noise
levels in clubs are said to range from 95
to 120 decibels, which compared to 110 for a
pneumatic drill, is at 8 x the threshold at which
ear protection is required in industry.
With
clubbers attending often marathon dance sessions
with exposure to more than 100 decibels of music
for eight hours or more - the report said it was
vital that people took regular breaks from the
dance floor and stayed away from music
speakers to avoid the risks of encountering hearing loss in early adulthood.
Phil Benedictus, 28, a freelance DJ and sound
engineer in London, now wears ear protection after
incurring hearing damage in noisy
clubs:
"The earplugs cut out 25 decibels and
took some time to I adjust to as it makes the
music feel less immediate," Mr Benedictus said.
"But I'm now cautious about exposing myself too
often, and tend to limit myself to working one
or two nights a week'
The report, which
was also backed by leading DJs Tim Westwood, Judge
Jules and Tall Paul, said the thriving dance
culture posed a serious threat to the hearing of
an entire generation, and that promoters should provide information
on protecting hearing and should encourage use of
earplugs.
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