08 May 2012
National hearing charity Deafness Research UK has
launched a new initiative to combat the possibility that youngsters
in Northern Ireland are "downloading deafness".
The organisation's Bionic Ear Show will visit a total of 15
schools and venues on its inaugural trip to the country, educating
people of all ages about hearing health.
With backing from the BIG Lottery Fund, the expedition launched
at Downey House School on April 23rd. The shows are bringing the
"World's Largest Ear" with them, which hopes to highlight the
issues faced by those who face problems with deafness. Coupling
this with free hearing screenings, both performances "deliver fun
information about good ear health", the charity explained.
"Northern Ireland, which has a strong industrial history, is
particularly appropriate because patterns of hearing loss that were
once due to industrial deafness are now being seen again thanks to
the misuse of MP3 players," Deafness Research UK explained. It is
this latter development that led to the term "downloading deafness"
being coined.
Vivienne Michael, the chief executive of Deafness Research UK,
said: "The fear is we're all 'downloading deafness' and risking
permanent damage and tinnitus. The Bionic Ear Show's message is not
to stop people listening to music but to listen to their favourite
sounds safely. Simply turning the volume down will enable all of us
to enjoy our music for years to come."
If you think you may have a hearing loss why not take our
online hearing check questionnaire or make an
appointment to have a free hearing test at your nearest
Amplifon branch.
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