35% of people say loud noises are the cause of tinnitus – but few protect their ears
Tinnitus UK is urging people to protect their ears at work or noisy leisure activities, as new data shows 35% of people with tinnitus say their condition was caused by loud noises.
One in seven adults is affected by tinnitus – a condition that causes the perception of noise when no external source is present. Studies indicate that the number of people with tinnitus will increase by half a million in the next ten years. There is currently no cure for the condition.
Now a new report from Tinnitus UK, marking the start of #TinnitusWeek 2023 (6-12 February), is urging people to protect their ears to reduce the damage caused by excessive noise exposure. This damage includes tinnitus and hearing loss, both of which can be permanent.
The Much to Lose: Noise Exposure and Tinnitus report, which includes new research of nearly 800 people with tinnitus, shows that more than a third (35%) of people believe their tinnitus was caused by exposure to loud noise. This could mean that 2.7 million adults in the UK have noise-related illnesses. Surprisingly, twice as many men (48%) as women (24%) cite noise exposure as a trigger.
Shockingly, four in ten (39%) respondents who were exposed to noise at work “never” used hearing protection and only a quarter (24%) “always” or “sometimes” used hearing protection.
The use of hearing protection in leisure activities is similarly low.
Despite power tools such as drills reaching 100 dB (20 dB above the safe sound level), only a quarter (26%) of DIYers use hearing protection “regularly” or “sometimes”. Even fewer – 23% of participants – use hearing protection at live music events where safe exposure times can be as little as 1 minute as levels can reach over 112dB.
Motorcyclists are also at risk of tinnitus and hearing loss when riding a motorcycle, with only a third (29%) using hearing protection “regularly” or “sometimes”.
Tinnitus UK also asked about activities that many are unaware of can reach harmful noise levels. Some subway lines can reach nearly 110 dB, but less than one in ten (8%) subway users use hearing protection “regularly” or “sometimes”. Some hair dryers can reach 95dB at high speed, but only 8% of people use hearing protection when drying their hair.
Tinnitus UK Interim Chief Executive Caroline Savage said: “Noise exposure is the single largest preventable cause of tinnitus and our research clearly shows that people do not appear to be aware of the risks. If you do something loud, even for a few minutes, use hearing protection. When it’s loud… Plug’em is our very clear message.”
She added: “We are not here to stop people from participating in activities they enjoy, but to make sure they enjoy them safely. We want protecting your ears to be second nature – just like we put on sunscreen and sunglasses in the summer or buckle up when we get in the car. The use of earplugs or hearing protection should not be stigmatized – we only have one pair of ears and damage to our hearing is irreversible.”
Record company worker and music fan Jo said: “Sometimes the ringing in my ears is louder than everything else and I need to take time to switch off and regain my composure and be able to hear things around me again. At first the ringing kept me from sleeping – eventually I got used to it. In the beginning, the new sounds and things that tinnitus brought interfered with a lot of what I was doing. I take full responsibility for that, I should have worn earplugs to gigs – I didn’t until it was too late and the ringing wouldn’t stop.”
Wesley’s* tinnitus and hearing loss began while serving as an Aircrew in the Armed Forces and led to a medical discharge. He explains: “I try my best to ignore it, but it can often be very loud when I’m trying to sleep. At work, it becomes a problem when I need to attend a meeting, do online training, or just need to talk to someone. With the Covid-19 lockdown, I have learned that I rely heavily on lip reading and if I can’t lip read I don’t hear what’s being said.”
Fellow sufferer Jag explains the impact on her everyday life: “Tinnitus has changed my life. I cannot go to events, restaurants, bars, etc. I can’t work in a busy office. It’s worse when I have a cold and it’s difficult to sleep.”
Mervyn’s experience is similar: “Tinnitus limits my daily activities and forces me to wear earplugs outside and hearing protection when driving. I can no longer go to concerts or football matches and have to avoid every “lively” pub or restaurant. It makes me depressed.”
Rowan*, who believes her tinnitus was caused by noise, said: “Tinnitus interferes with my everyday life. I can hear it all the time and it can be very distressing to realize that I’m 25 and have to deal with this for the rest of my life. I have to work with either white noise or music. I can never be silent. It feels like it’s crushing my head. I have to accept that I will never experience true stillness again. It’s heartbreaking and it’s exhausting.”
For more information on noise exposure and hearing protection, see tinnitus.org.uk/join-the-cause/plugem. Tinnitus UK’s team of trained counselors offer help and support on 0800 018 0527 or via live web chat at tinnitus.org.uk
Some names* have been changed to protect privacy
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press contact
For more information on the press release, a copy of the report, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Nick Wray
communications manager
Tinnitus UK
+44 (0)114 250 9933
Notes for editors
Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing a sound when there is no external source of the sound. Someone with tinnitus may hear ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, or other noises. Tinnitus can be there all the time or it can come and go. The volume of a person’s tinnitus can vary from one episode to the next.
Tinnitus comes in many forms, but Tinnitus UK is for everyone living with tinnitus.
We strive for a world where no one suffers from tinnitus.
That’s why we offer free support to anyone who has tinnitus or cares for someone with tinnitus.
That’s why we’re committed to more investment in tinnitus research.
That’s why we connect the research community with people living with tinnitus to ensure those looking for new treatments and cures understand the impact tinnitus has on everyday life.
That’s why we work with healthcare professionals to make sure you’re getting the right information to treat your tinnitus.
One in seven adults in the UK will have tinnitus. Keep that in mind the next time you’re at the grocery store, on the bus, or on the street. Tinnitus affects 7.6 million people in the UK – 1.5 million of them suffer from severe tinnitus.
For everyone living with tinnitus, our message is clear – your fight is our cause.
Tinnitus UK, Ground Floor Unit 5, Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield, United Kingdom S8 0TB. Tinnitus UK is a registered charity. Registered charity number 1011145.
