Over a third of tinnitus sufferers blame dancing the night away to loud music for their condition

More than a third of tinnitus sufferers (35 per cent) blame dancing the night away to loud music in their hedonistic heyday for their hearing condition.
The poll, of 1,000 adults over 40 with impaired hearing, found 22 per cent feel gigs, raves and festivals are where they overdid it the most when they were younger.
And 61 per cent even remember experiencing ringing in their ears after a gig – one of the early warning signs of tinnitus.
When reflecting on their younger years, 82 per cent adults admitted they took their hearing for granted.
As a result, 48 per cent wish they could turn back time and protect their hearing from an earlier age, with 45 per cent claiming they’d be more mindful of how it can be damaged in loud environments.
The research, commissioned by Specsavers for Tinnitus Week, aims to educate Brits on signs of the common hearing condition that can sound like ringing, humming, or buzzing in the ear.
It comes after data from Tinnitus UK estimated a third of people will experience tinnitus in their lifetime – as many as 22.9 million people across the UK.
Gordon Harrison, chief audiologist at Specsavers, said: “You should always consider how you can protect your hearing before heading into noisy environments.
“Listening to loud sounds without appropriate protection can cause long-term damage to your hearing, especially for younger adults and children, who are much more sensitive to sound.
“Hearing protection and ear plugs can be helpful, as can regular breaks away from the noise.
“Avoid standing in front of speaker too and exercise caution when wearing headphones.
“To stay safe, never listen to music above 60 per cent volume and try to give your ears regular breaks from headphones.”
Th Pet Shop Boys perform on the Other Stage on the final day of Glastonbury Festival. Glastonbury, Somerset. 26 June