Teenage Health - Are we missing a trick?

These days there here is much focus (quite rightly) on the health of our teenagers.  At school and at home we warn them of the dangers of drugs, alcohol, smoking and unprotected sex. And we regulate at national level to try to “protect” them from such dangers – through controlled drugs legislation, putting age limits on the purchase of cigarettes and alcohol, increasing the tax on tobacco and booze to make it less accessible, banning smoking in public places, running public health campaigns aimed it youngsters promoting safe sex and advising on what to do and where to go for help if things do not quite go to plan.  But I wonder if we are overlooking a relatively simple health measure that could make a big difference to a lot of young people in the future.

My nephew went to a night club for the first time last week.  With the public smoking ban it was clear that he was not going to suffer any ill effects from passive smoking (quite important since he is asthmatic and has very sensitive eyes).  However, I was astonished to learn that the next day he could not hear properly.  He presented with the classic symptoms of tinnitus, which lasted for several days. We are all aware of the dangers to the ear of loud music.  I am constantly advising my children to ensure the volume on their iPods is not too high.  Until now my understanding was that permanent ear damage can be a consequence of repeated exposure to loud noise.  But having researched the matter further I find a number of reports of permanent ear damage resulting from a one – off exposure to loud noise “such as an explosion or being at a pop concert or a night club” Needless to say I did not reveal this finding to my nephew when he still could not hear properly after four days (thankfully now he has fully recovered).

So what is the answer? Stop teenagers from going to night clubs and pop concerts?  I think not.  I would not be such a kill-joy. But maybe consideration should be given to putting in place legislation to control noise levels in night clubs and at concerts.  Maybe this exists already ( I have not had time to look into that one). If legislation does exist maybe it is not being enforced effectively.  OK, I accept that permanent tinnitus is not life threatening like drugs, alcohol , smoking and unsafe sex but it is a debilitating condition and one which I would not want my nephew, son or any other youngster to have to suffer from for the rest of their lives. Maybe the British Tinnitus Association has a view on this.