Every year, the 5th November brings a unique array of sights and sounds as many of us enjoy the thrill of Guy Fawkes night. But while most people are aware of the harm fireworks can do if not handled properly, very few will appreciate the damage the noisiest night of the year can do to their hearing and to the hearing of their children.

Richard Moss RHAD, FSHAA, MRSH senior partner at the Oxford Hearing Centre, explains;

"It's quite possible for a person watching fireworks to experience noise levels significant enough to cause hearing loss and ringing in their ears – either due to a close explosion or through a cumulative exposure to noise.”

Hearing loss through exposure to noise can be accompanied by a condition, called tinnitus, a permanent ringing in the ears for which there is no specific cure.

"We don't know necessarily who, for a given amount of noise exposure, is going to end up with ringing ears and permanent or temporary hearing loss," says Richard.

"Part of the problem is that it's sometimes hard to judge just how loud a sound actually is."

"A key element of impact explosions, like fireworks, is that they're very short," he explains. "Research has shown that if a sound is less than about 150 milliseconds that we really don't realise how loud it actually is. So when you hear the bang of a firework, it may be much louder than you think! This factor, coupled with the ready availability of new, more powerful fireworks means that this is a growing concern."

Aside from the instant damage experienced by some people, the cumulative amount of "continuous noise" in a Guy Fawkes night party can easily add up to harmful levels.

How to protect yourself and your children

Hearing damage on fireworks night can easily be prevented by using earplugs or with specially designed headphones for young ears which the Oxford Hearing Centre are recommending for children this November 5th.

"I’d like to suggest a new warning for the Fireworks Code," say Richard Moss:

"ALWAYS WEAR HEARING PROTECTION!".

He sums up his message: “We obviously want everyone, especially children, to enjoy all the fun of Guy Fawkes night, but with the right protection those at risk from loud noise can avoid a lifetime of hearing damage.”

Oxford Hearing Centre
157 Eynsham Road
Oxford OX2 9NE
Tel. 01865 861 861

www.oxfordhearingcentre.co.uk

Published: November 2007