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Music not the only sound heard by festival goers

29/02/08

We all enjoy music, but too much loud music could damage your hearing.

That was the message from Australian Hearing, sponsors of the Brunswick Music Festival, reminding over 70,000 festival-goers to take care of their hearing so they can continue to enjoy music into old age.

Australian Hearing sponsored the Brunswick festival's Afro Iramoo stage at the Sydney Road Street Party which took place on Sunday 24 February 2008. Australian Hearing staff also conducted hearing screenings over the day and gave away hundreds of show bags and other merchandise.

Dr Kelvin Kong, an Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeon (Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon) and Director on the Australian Hearing Board, was on hand to promote hearing awareness.

"We all enjoy music and especially celebrations like the Brunswick Music Festival, but we want people to be smart about their exposure to loud noise," he said.

"If you are continually exposed to loud noise over time it can produce permanent damage."

Dr Kong is Australia's first Indigenous surgeon and was very proud of Australian Hearing's support of the stage featuring Indigenous performers. Dr Kong said there are a range of measures that can be taken to prevent hearing loss.

"Do not deliberately expose yourself to very high sound levels for sustained periods of time. You should be able to talk to someone one metre away without having to shout," he said.

"Limit the time of exposure and the loudness of the noise."

The day was successful in raising awareness of Australian Hearing services within the community.

Hearing services are free to many Indigenous people, including people up to 21 years and aged 50 years and over, or anyone who is a participant of a Community Development Employment Program.

Brunswick Festival

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