The team, from Echo Barrier, a company which specialises in preventative measures for noise reduction, claim far more needs to be done to educate young people on hearing damage and that the Government needs to plough more cash into helping them better understand the risks.

The warning follows news that an astonishing 16% of teenagers suffer from permanent noise-induced hearing loss and that the number is increasing year-on-year thanks to the rise in popularity of gadgets such as iPods and other MP3 players and the effects of high levels of noise in clubs and music venues.
Peter Wilson, Technical Director at Echo Barrier, said: “This is not a new problem but it’s an ongoing one. As a nation we have ploughed a lot of money into educating children on the dangers of smoking, of taking drugs and of not eating healthily. But there seems to be a gaping hole in children’s awareness of the health problems relating to noise pollution.
Tackling the fallout is costing the NHS tens of millions on an annual basis.” According to charity Action On Hearing Loss, the NHS currently provide free hearing aids (at a cost of between £300 and £3,000 a time) to two million people in Britain. It also provides care for the 10 million with hearing loss in the UK which include 45,000 deaf children.

Mr Wilson said: “The amount of money we put into educating the children about these issues is nothing compared to the amount we are spending on treating them.” Currently the UK curriculum teaches children about sound as part of its science plan for pupils age five to six. They learn about decibels, types of sound and sound waves.
However this is not revisited as the child grows up or expanded upon to include more information on noise-induced hearing loss or the preventative measures that can be used to shield ears. Mr Wilson said: “In terms of education on this issue, a lot is left to parents. The result is that many children are not aware of the dangers or do not take them seriously. “It is not news to anybody that adolescents underestimate their own vulnerability. But ongoing studies have shown a complete lack of awareness on the issue.”
In 2002 a number of children were questioned about noise and the effect it can have on health. The group rated other health issues as bigger problems than hearing loss including sexually transmitted disease, drug and alcohol use, depression and even acne.
But when the teenagers were interviewed again five years later, the researchers found that nearly half of respondents had experienced some form of ear problems with 77% complaining of tinnitus and 40% of trouble hearing and ear pain.

Mr Wilson said: “It’s vital we address this issue now. We need to help children understand how sound works as well as how to arm themselves against it.” Sound is measured in decibels (dB), and an increase or decrease of 10dB represents a doubling or halving of the perceived loudness. That means 80dB sounds twice as loud as 70dB. An average conversation ranges from 40-60dB, but sound levels in a noisy restaurant or busy street can peak at 80-90dB, and nightclubs, rock venues and even classical concerts regularly register 100dB - equivalent to a pneumatic drill at 12 feet.
Some children's toys register astonishingly high noise levels - from 97dB for a talking soft toy, to almost 110dB for a teething rattle and an ear-splitting 150dB peak close to a cap gun. Mr Wilson said: “An additional threat for many teens is personal stereos.
Some parents choose to put noise-level controls on devices that their children use and some companies are doing their best to help with this.” In fact, as a result of a 2006 lawsuit, Apple placed parental controls on iPod models, allowing caregivers to set maximum volumes. And in France, legislators have imposed a maximum volume of 100 dB on all MP3 players sold in the country, and clubs and discos are required to sell earplugs.
In the US, The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is going one step further in helping parents better educate their kids. They have sponsored a nationwide campaign - It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing - designed to increase awareness among parents of children ages eight to 12 about the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.

Mr Wilson wants there to be a similar drive in the UK – which Echo Barrier would support - with the aim of teaching children to adopt healthy hearing habits before and during the time that they develop listening, leisure, and working habits. “The real aim here should be to make all young people protect their ears as normal routine and practice - in the same way that they might apply sunscreen or wear a seat belt,” he said.

For more information on Echo Barrier visit www.echobarrier.co.uk