Title: Safe and Sound: How loud is too loud?

PI: Sam Couth (PCHN)

The World Health Organisation estimates that over one billion people worldwide are at risk of permanently damaging their hearing due to unsafe listening practices, such as attendance at loud concerts and nightclubs. Noise exposure is the biggest preventable cause of permanent hearing loss, yet research from Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD) has shown that only 2% of people use earplugs to protect their hearing during noisy recreational activities. To address this issue, a team of students and staff from ManCAD will host a science exhibitor stand at Bluedot festival 2023 which aims to (1) raise public awareness of the dangers of noise exposure, and (2) improve hearing conservation behaviours (e.g., earplug use) for attendees at the festival. 

Social responsibility and ED&I are at the core of this project, which aligns with a number of the University’s SR priorities. In particular:

Better Health – Through our combination of stand activities and our intervention study, we aim to raise public awareness of the dangers of noise and to promote hearing conservation behaviours. By widely disseminating the project outputs, we aim to increase public awareness of noise exposure and foster a culture of safe listening habits to prevent disabling hearing loss. This could have long-term benefits for hearing health, which will ultimately ensure a better quality of life and general wellbeing.

Social Inclusion and Cultural Engagement – Over the course of the festival we have the potential to make an impact on thousands of individuals. Our stand includes a range of hands-on, fun, and interactive activities to engage members of the general public in science and encourage them to become “citizen scientists”. Festival goers comprise people of all ages, cultures, genders, and backgrounds, and so there is opportunity to involve members of the community who might not routinely engage with research activities. “

You can watch the recording of Sam’s seminar here

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