Tag: hearing

Music legend Lulu reveals she has moderate hearing loss as a result of 60 years of live performances

New poll finds nearly a quarter of gig goers in Scotland think loud music has damaged their hearing

  • The revelation comes just weeks after the showbiz icon, who is in her seventh decade of performing, appeared at Glastonbury Festival and announced the second part of her farewell tour.
  • Specsavers has partnered with the music legend, alongside DJ and tinnitus sufferer Woody Cook and the Night Time Industries Association, to encourage people to safeguard their hearing.

British legend Lulu has revealed she is living with moderate hearing loss – after a hearing check at Specsavers revealed the impact that 60 years in the music industry has had on her hearing.

The news that her career has damaged her hearing comes just weeks after the Scottish singing sensation – who is on her seventh decade of performing her debut single ‘Shout’ – wowed crowds at Glastonbury and announced dates in November as part of her farewell ‘Champagne for Lulu’ tour.

The music icon is now calling on music lovers to take steps to protect their own hearing, as a new poll reveals 23% of gig goers in Scotland think loud music has damaged their hearing.

The study, commissioned by Specsavers of 900 adults who attend concerts and festivals, found that, in Scotland, 40% have noticed a negative impact on their hearing immediately after a gig – with 47% experiencing ringing in their ears, 33% buzzing and 35% a muffled sensation. Just over a quarter (26%) said they had suffered temporary hearing loss, while just under a quarter, (21%) experienced pain in their ears.

Despite this, over half (55%) of those in Scotland planning to attend a live music event this summer are unlikely to wear hearing protection. Of these, 48% said they avoid it because they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the experience as much, and over a quarter (33%) thought it would alter the quality of the music, which is not the case.

Lulu said: ‘After being on stage nearly all of my life, I have always noticed ringing and muffled sounds, but never really thought much of it.

‘Music has always been a cornerstone of everything I do, so it’s incredibly important that I can still enjoy it. Wearing hearing aids will mean I can continue to hear every note.

‘But it’s more than just this – connecting with people is a huge part of my life and I want to be able to join the conversation and not be left out of it. The good news is it’s not too late for me to preserve the rest of my hearing.

‘Using hearing protection is such a simple and easy thing to do when around live music and I urge others to wear it.

‘Music is still my life, and I plan to carry on enjoying it for many years to come.’

The average volume at a live music event is between 115 and 120 decibels (dB) – which could damage hearing if exposed to it for long enough without hearing protection. The survey found a quarter (74%) of people in Scotland didn’t know that the average volume was that high.

Romaan Babar, audiologist at Specsavers, said: ‘With festival season well underway, it is crucial music lovers protect their hearing. Repeated exposure to high decibel levels at gigs and festivals has the potential to lead to permanent damage, such as sound-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.

‘In fact, hearing damage can start at around 85 dB if you are exposed to it for eight hours plus – such as at a festival – if you don’t wear ear plugs. Each additional 3 dB of volume cuts that exposure time in half, so by the time the volume reaches 100 dB, which is still less than the average gig, it could only take 15 minutes for your hearing to be damaged – which is quite scary.’

Specsavers has partnered with Lulu, DJ Woody Cook, who has tinnitus, and the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) to promote the need to wear hearing protection to live music lovers and people who work in the sector.

Woody says he wishes he’d taken steps to protect his hearing earlier. He says: ‘Without doubt, the tinnitus I suffer with today is a result of listening to loud music. Sometimes it makes me feel like I have a continual electric buzz or high-pitched noise in my head which makes me feel really disorientated.

‘I love music – and obviously, I work as a DJ – so my tinnitus has a massive impact on my personal and professional life. I wish I had known about the risks earlier. I’m now taking steps to protect my hearing from any further damage and recommend others to do the same.’

In another survey, among those working in venues with loud music in 91% have experienced a negative impact on their hearing, with reporting tinnitus (36%) or hearing loss (36%). 29%) rarely or never wear hearing protection at work – with a quarter (25%) saying that’s because their employer has not provided them with it.

The NTIA, which represents the UK’s clubs, bars and pubs, launched the Listen for Life campaign last October to raise awareness of the importance of hearing protection. It has partnered with Specsavers as part of a new industry report ‘It’s time to talk about hearing’ to launch a new Night Time Economy Charter, which will help businesses to better look after the hearing health of colleagues and customers.

Mike Kill, CEO of the NTIA, says it’s worrying how common hearing loss and tinnitus are for those working in the night time industries. He added: ‘We want those who enjoy going to festivals, gigs, pubs, bars and clubs to be able to enjoy them without damaging their hearing – and for those who work in loud environments to be given the knowledge and tools to take care of themselves.

“This charter can play a massive part in doing that.’

Romaan Babar adds: ‘What might start as a minor annoyance after a gig can lead to long-term consequences.

“It’s never too late to start protecting your ears. Wearing ear plugs, not standing too close to speakers, and taking breaks from loud environments can all help preserve your hearing.’

You can read about more about hearing protection in the ‘It’s time to talk about hearing’ report here: www.specsavers.co.uk/reports/hearing-health-2024, and more about ‘Listen for life’ and the NTIAs 10-point charter for businesses here: https://ntia.co.uk/listen-for-life-campaign/ 

Find out more about hearing protection at Specsavers at specsavers.co.uk/hearing. 

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Letters: Tinnitus Week

Dear Sir/ Madam,

This week is Tinnitus Week (6-12 February 2023), and latest research suggests that 1 in 7 adults have tinnitus.

Everyone’s tinnitus is different, but it’s usually described as a ringing, hissing, buzzing, roaring or humming sound. There may be one or more sounds and the noise may be there all the time or come and go. 

The causes of tinnitus can be linked to different things, including hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, ear or head injuries, some ear conditions and emotional stress. Sometimes, there’s no recognisable link at all. Many people get tinnitus for a short time – for example, after being exposed to loud music, or when they have congestion because of a cold. But for some people, it doesn’t go away, and it can have a significant impact on their daily life.

The good news is, RNID is here to help. Our free Tinnitus Guide contains information on ways to manage tinnitus, from professional support to self-help options. It also includes information on useful apps and technology, how to support a loved one with tinnitus, and what to do if tinnitus is affecting your sleep.

RNID is committed to funding research to silence tinnitus, and our guide contains the latest information on our work to identify the causes of tinnitus and develop strategies to treat it. You can find all this and more by downloading our free tinnitus guide at rnid.org.uk/tinnitus

Yours sincerely,

Crystal Rolfe, Director of Health at RNID

Royal National Institute for Deaf People

Eyre Place student housing on hold

Request For Hearing: Planning Application 22/03834/FUL (Student Accommodation) 72-74 Eyre Place   

Foysol Choudhury Labour MSP for Lothian said: “I am delighted the Councillors on the Planning Development Sub Committee have all agreed a Hearing for this application which had almost 400 objections. 

“I was so disappointed the Planning officers were recommending approval of the Eyre Place application.  

“I contacted the Development Management Sub-Committee asking for a Hearing and I am delighted they have agreed to my request.  

“The Hearing will give an opportunity for the concerns of the local residents and groups to be heard. I hope that following the Hearing, Councillors will reject the application.  

“Having visited Eyre Place myself on 23 September 2022 and discussing with the residents of Rodney Place, I concur with their objections.  

“Local residents and community groups object to the overall scale of the development, its overbearing presence blocking natural light for neighbours, and dense accommodation which would overburden local infrastructure and amenities.  

“The massing and height would lead to an overdevelopment of the site, with the potential to result in adverse impacts on residential amenities.  

“The proposal, overall, is not compatible with the character of the area neither in terms of the proposed use nor its design, the approach for which is incongruous and alien to the established urban form in terms of roofscape and appearance. 

“I am also concerned that a storey of the student flats will be dedicated to ‘entertainment’ and karaoke booths and can understand why local residents are worried about noise levels.” 

Local Green councillor Jule Bandel also objected to the application and argued the case for a hearing. She said on Twitter: “Delighted that committee has approved the hearing requests! This will give the community a chance to properly explain why the proposed student accommodation is unsuitable for the site & area. Well done everyone!”

The Invereleith councillor said earlier: “Disappointed that officials have recommended the proposed student accommodation at Eyre Place for approval.

‘The points I made in my objection in September still stand & I have submitted hearing requests to allow the community to properly make their case: https://bit.ly/3vPb5t6“

From Digital Disasters to Face Masks: Research reveals the biggest communication barriers

  • A new study has revealed the biggest modern communication barriers for Scots
  • The survey, conducted by modern hearing specialist Hidden Hearing, revealed that conversing digitally can be a huge barrier, with just under a fifth of Edinburgh adults having fallen out with someone after misreading a text message
  • But communication barriers can occur in-person too, with the biggest barriers revealed to be several people talking at once, background noise, struggling with face masks, people talking too quietly or fast – all of which are linked to your ability to hear
  • 36 per cent of those from Edinburgh are currently worried about a family member’s hearing, and worry their relationship would suffer if left untreated
  • One in ten local adults put off making a call to family members as they are worried about their own, or the other person’s hearing
  • GP and medical broadcaster Dr Hilary Jones said, “People want to communicate better, but they aren’t recognising that some of the biggest barriers are linked to hearing loss. When you struggle to hear, communication can become challenging, and feelings of frustration may arise, which is why getting regular hearing tests is so important.”

New research by high street hearing specialist Hidden Hearing has revealed the biggest modern communication barriers – from digital disasters to face masks.  

The research revealed that a fifth (18 per cent) of those from Edinburgh have fallen out with someone after misreading text messages, with just one in five also admitting they can spend ‘hours’ puzzling over someone’s wording or tone in a text trying to work out if they are actually annoyed or joking.

Nationally, undetected sarcasm (42 per cent) was revealed as the most common miscommunication, followed by jokes being taken the wrong way (41 per cent) and misunderstanding the tone of the message (36 per cent), leading to one fifth wrongly assuming someone was in a mood with them.

Adults are most likely to over analyse texts and emails from work colleagues (35 per cent), followed by a partner (20 per cent) or a love interest (13 per cent).

Hear this: The biggest communication barriers revealed

But communication barriers don’t just happen digitally, they can occur in-person too, with the biggest barriers being several people talking at once (39 per cent), background noise (39 per cent), face masks (38 per cent), people talking too quietly (37 per cent) or fast (32 per cent) – all of which are linked to hearing loss. 

“People want to communicate better, but they aren’t recognising that some of the biggest barriers are linked to hearing loss,” said GP and medical broadcaster Dr Hilary Jones.

 “When you struggle to hear, communication can become challenging, and feelings of frustration may arise, which is why being proactive and getting regular hearing tests is so important.”

Additionally, mumbling was revealed to be the most frustrating communication habit (41 per cent) – however thinking someone is mumbling is common sign of hearing loss – so the issue is likely to be with the listener rather than the ‘mumbler’. 

The survey revealed that men struggle to hear more than women, with the average male struggling to hear nearly once a day, in comparison to women who have difficulty hearing 273 times a year.

One in three people believe hearing is critical for a conversation to flow, however over 50 per cent of those who experience hearing loss choose not to have their ears tested, highlighting that the issue is being ignored.

Hearing loss: It’s a family matter

More than 2 in 5 (41 per cent) adults put off calling people as they are worried about their own, or the other person’s hearing, with 17 per cent revealing that they have experienced a communication breakdown with a friend or family member because of a hearing loss. Shockingly, 45 per cent of adults’ struggle to hear someone speaking at least four times in a week.

Over one third (35 per cent) of people feel untreated hearing loss is frustrating for everyone involved in the conversation.

When it comes to the best place for conversation to flow – sitting around the family dinner table came up tops, as chosen by a third.

Dr Hilary Jones said, “If you, or a family member, are finding it hard to keep up with conversations when socialising, it may be a sign of hearing loss.

“Taking a hearing test and wearing hearing aids can help you listen better, feel connected and tune into conversations. Hidden Hearing’s 5-minute online hearing test can provide an immediate insight into how well you, or a family member, can hear.”

Time to embrace face-to-face

Nearly one third (31 per cent) of Brits reported feeling frustrated as a result of digital miscommunication, as well as anxious (27 per cent) and stressed (25 per cent). Feelings of anxiety were especially apparent in the younger generation, with 41 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds stressing over a text or email, in comparison to 1 in 10 over 55s.

Nearly one quarter (23 per cent) have waited to say something to someone in person to avoid it being misunderstood over text – even if it meant waiting weeks to have the conversation.

The OnePoll nationwide study of 2,000 adults found that a huge 79 per cent believe face-to-face is the best way to talk to someone, rather than through a gadget, with 41 per cent of adults believing that ‘people these days have lost the art of communication and rely too much on technology.’

The top phrases Brits would most like to hear in person rather than over a phone were ‘I love you’ and ‘Will you marry me?’ – both selected by 44 per cent of respondents. Nearly one third would also much rather be broken up with face-to-face, rather than over the phone.

The main benefits adults find in having conversations in person include being able to look someone in the eyes (51 per cent), paying attention to body language (47 per cent) and finding it easier to note tone (46 per cent).

Dr Hilary Jones explained: “Spending time with your loved ones or friends, especially in-person as opposed to digitally, has a profound positive impact on our mental health and wellbeing, wellbeing”.

“In person communication enables us to understand tone, pay attention to body language, and feel better connected, reducing feelings of frustration, depression and anxiety, shown to be the most common feelings from miscommunication. These feelings can be heightened even more for those who struggle to hear.”

Visit www.hiddenhearing.co.uk to find your nearest clinic or take Hidden Hearing’s free online hearing test.

The biggest communication barriers

Several people talking at once
Background noise
Face masks
People talking too quietly
People talking too fast
Language barriers
Zoning out of the conversation
Difference of opinions
Misunderstanding or misinterpreting a written message (e.g. email or text)
Not understanding jargon or vocabulary
Not understanding the tone of voice or intention behind a written message
Multi-tasking
Hearing problems
Fear of how the other person would react
Social distancing 
The best places to communicate

At home
Around a family dinner table
On holiday
Outside in nature
In a restaurant or café
On the sofa
On a walk or bike ride
Over a shared hobby
In bed
While drunk
Via phone calls
While driving
At work
Via text message
In a meeting room