Health insurance patients 'should avoid high noise situations to protect hearing'

People who want to protect their hearing should ensure they do not spend a lot of time in situations where there are high levels of noise.

This is according to Lorraine Gaily, chief executive of Hearing Link, who stated listening to mp3 players too loud, being in nightclubs or surrounded by loud traffic conditions are all examples of places where the volume is often turned up too high.

She added: "It's not so much a problem with industrial noise exposure anymore because there's a lot of legislation around that ... it's more being exposed to loud noise in social and leisure pursuits that is the issue."

What's more, Ms Gaily pointed out it is as easy as ever to get a hearing check-up as individuals can ask at their GP surgery to be referred to the audiology department.

This comes after Emma Harrison, campaigner and director of public engagement at the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, stated older people, as well as youngsters, can damage their hearing from listening to loud music.