Loud music can damage your ears before you know it, causing permanent hearing loss and tinnitus – ringing or buzzing in your ears. Make sure you know the risk, so you can look after your ears.

We’ve put together these tips to make meetings more accessible and inclusive for deaf people and those with hearing loss.

Before the meeting

Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that are not caused by an outside source. It’s common – around 1 in 7 adults have tinnitus all the time or regularly.

140dB is the level at which noise causes pain for most people, although some people may find lower levels painful too.

If you have tinnitus (noise in your ears or head) and stress is making it worse, help is available. There are also things you can try to help you manage both stress and tinnitus.

Most cases of tinnitus are linked to hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear, such as through normal ageing or exposure to loud noise. This type of hearing loss is called sensorineural.

We’ve put together these tips to make meetings more accessible and inclusive for deaf people and those with hearing loss. 

Check if anyone needs communication support  

If you are in a noisy job, your employer is obliged to take steps to protect your hearing, including making sure that you have hearing protection.

The hearing check will suggest whether your hearing is in a normal range or whether you may have hearing loss.