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Irish music legends Aslan have teamed up with Specsavers Ireland to learn the impact that years in the music industry has had on their hearing.
The iconic band has teamed up with the hearing experts at Specsavers for the launch of its hearing health report ‘It’s time to talk about hearing’.
The iconic rock band visited Specsavers for a hearing check, just weeks after they wowed crowds at Croke Park, when they surprised fans and joined Coldplay on stage for their Music Of The Spheres world tour.
Speaking on behalf of Aslan, guitarist Billy McGuiness said: ‘For years, I thought the muffled sounds and ringing in my ears were just part of life, especially in this business.
‘Following a case of mumps from when I was 17, I’ve been living with 70% hearing loss in one ear. It wasn’t until I went to Specsavers that I learned about a hearing device that brings sound back to that ear, I’ll be hearing things I haven’t heard properly in over 40 years. That’s life-changing stuff!’
Drummer Alan Downey 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 we do, so it’s incredibly important that we can still enjoy it. At the hearing check, it confirmed that Billy, Joe Jewell and I would benefit from wearing hearing devices and this will mean we can continue to hear every note when listening to live music.
‘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 also such a simple and easy thing to do when around live music and I’d urge other people to wear some.
‘Music is still my life, and I plan to carry on enjoying it for many years to come.’
Aslan are now calling on music fans to take steps to protect their own hearing, as a new poll reveals over half of gig goers (53%) think loud music has damaged their hearing.
The study, commissioned by Specsavers, found 53% have noticed a negative impact on their hearing immediately after a gig – with 54% experiencing ringing in their ears, 48% buzzing and 32% a muffled sensation. Nearly a quarter (23%) said they had suffered pain in their ears, while over one in five (21%) experienced a whistling noise.
Despite this, over half (51%) of those planning to attend a live music event before the end of the year are unlikely to wear hearing protection. Of these, 46% said they avoid hearing protection because they believed they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the experience as much, and over a third (34%) thought they would alter the quality of the music, which is not the case.
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 that over two thirds (67%) of people didn’t know that the average volume was that high.
Specsavers Ireland Audiology Chairperson, Martina McNulty, who is based in Letterkenny
Martina McNulty, Specsavers Ireland Audiology Chairperson, said: ‘With gig 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 hearing protection. 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.’
In another survey among those working in venues with loud music, 72% have experienced a negative impact on their hearing, with nearly two thirds reporting tinnitus (61%) or buzzing (46%). Two in five (42%) rarely or never wear hearing protection at work – with half (50%) saying that’s because their employer has not provided them with it.
Martina McNulty 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 hearing protection, not standing too close to speakers, and taking breaks from loud environments can all help preserve your hearing.’
Specsavers offers a range of hearing products to suit all needs and budgets. Under the PRSI scheme, those eligible for the benefit can now avail of a pair of hearing aids up to the value of €1,000 or put their PRSI contribution towards the cost of a more expensive pair of hearing aids at Specsavers.
You can read about more about hearing protection in the ‘It’s time to talk about hearing’ report here: www.Specsavers.ie/reports/hearing-health-2024
To find out more about hearing protection and to booking a free hearing check, visit https://www.specsavers.ie/stores/letterkenny
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