If more people knew that loud music can cause hearing loss and tinnitus, would they lower the volume?

About a year ago, I was invited to my friend’s son’s wedding.  At the wedding, I asked my friend to tell the band to lower the volume, because I didn’t want to suffer hearing loss or tinnitus as a result.  She answered, “No.”  I gave her the benefit of the doubt.  After all, who wants to risk putting 200 people in jeopardy of hearing loss and tinnitus?  I assumed she didn’t hear me, so I shouted my request.  This time, she asked me to leave.

Once again, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I assumed that the bank just notified her that she was turned down for a home equity loan, and had no way to cover the cost of the wedding.

Since then, I do the “Debbie Downer” of Saturday Night Live.  I just don’t go to weddings.  If the hosts don’t care enough about my hearing and want to put me at risk for tinnitus, why should I even bother?

I thought the music and hearing loss connection is common knowledge. Even so, many people just don’t care.  Like when it comes to teeth, every person knows that candy can cause tooth decay. Yet, I know some highly educated parents who choose to pay for their seven-year-old to have a root canal rather than deprive him of candy. I hope they have money saved up, because by the time this kid hits eighteen, he is going to need his first set of dentures.

Perhaps we should have “noise reduction classes” alongside  in schools, and distribute earplugs in public schools in order to prevent the next generation from developing hearing loss and tinnitus. Will it work?  We’ve been educating teenagers for years about the dangers of smoking, and cigarette sales are still going strong.  We have to convince our teenagers that wearing earplugs is the coolest thing at concerts, and very macho.

Until then, at least there is TinnitusDX, a homeopathic remedy for tinnitus.