A growing number of Dutch people suffer from tinnitus, also known as tinnitus. This group currently consists of more than 2.5 million people. Patients suffering from tinnitus hear annoying beeping, whistling and other disturbing noises. Tens of thousands of people from this group even experience psychosocial problems.
Stricter measures may therefore be taken to prevent hearing damage. State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen of Public Health wants, among other things, that the maximum permitted noise level at festivals be reduced. He is also considering expanding hearing screening in primary schools.
Maximum
Doctors and audiologists have also seen more and more young people with hearing problems in recent years, even though they saw a downward trend before that. Many of these young people suffer hearing damage during music events.
A maximum noise level of 103 decibels on average now applies here, but this has not been laid down by law. Within five minutes this level can cause hearing damage and every three decibels added is a doubling of the sound.
At the request of Van Ooijen, the Health Council has issued a recommendation to lower the maximum to 100 decibels at festivals, cinemas and gyms.
What do you think, should stricter measures be taken to prevent hearing damage? Or is this a matter of taking your own responsibility and wearing earplugs, for example?