Wearing earplugs in a noisy place or when doing a task which makes a loud sound, can help to protect your hearing, according to Tinnitus UK. 

The charity said: "There are lots of different types of earplugs available. Some block out sound completely, others can enhance what you hear.  

"Whatever the earplug, you need to make sure you fit them correctly. Read the instructions first and if you need extra help, you should find help on YouTube."

It added: "The effectiveness of an ear plug is measured by attenuation. This is a measurement of the loss in intensity or how much the sound is 'turned down by the ear plug'. The figure measures the potential loss of sound in decibels and is usually shown on the packaging of the ear plug. 

"To ensure that you are listening safely, an ear plug should reduce the volume of the sound to a safe level. 

£A volume of 85dB is considered the limit for safe listening. So, as a basic guide you should think about the volume of the sound in the environment you are in and the advertised effectiveness of the ear plug. 

"If the ear plug reduces the sound level to below 85dB, this is considered safe.

"For example: A nightclub may be 106dB. With disposable ear plugs used correctly, the attenuation is 30db. So, 106dB – 30dB = 76dB so they are safe to use." 

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 The Hearing Services Kingston sells a variety of noise protection plugs and monitors for musicians. 

Speaking about the importance of noise protection for musicians, Director and Clinical Audiologist at The Hearing Services Kingston, Farah Kiani, told Nub News: ""It's important for musicians to protect their ears by using custom hearing protection earplugs.

"Firstly it prevents noise induced hearing loss which is not ideal for a musician who needs to accurately hear every frequency of the instrument they are using. 

"Secondly it prevents Tinnitus which is another symptom common in musicians who chose not to wear ear plugs of some sort"  

You can find out more about the services The Hearing Services Kingston offers to musicians via its website here.

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