83% of Gen Z have experienced hearing issues after live music events, study finds
The data, shared by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), aims to encourage greater use of earplugs at music events
A new study has found 83% of Gen Z music fans report hearing and ear issues after attending live music events.
The data, shared by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) as part of its new Don’t Lose The Music campaign , looks at the ear health of Gen Z respondents aged 20 to 29 and aims to encourage greater use of earplugs at music events.
Of those surveyed, 83% say they have experienced “ringing, buzzing or muffled” hearing after attending gigs or listening to loud music, with 10% experiencing these symptoms “regularly”. Yet only 20% say they “often” wear earplugs.
The campaign seeks to challenge common myths and misconceptions around earplugs, including the idea that they “reduce sound quality” or are difficult to wear comfortably. RNID has also shared guidance on choosing the right earplugs based on individual needs and how they will be used.
“I’d often experience ringing in my ears after events, but assumed it was normal because it always went away, until one day it didn’t,” said campaign advocate Natalie, a DJ and content creator who performs as KEM.
“I now know that temporary ringing can be a warning sign of hearing damage, but by the time I understood that, the damage was already permanent... While I can’t undo what’s happened, I hope sharing my experience encourages others to take protecting their hearing seriously.”
Other tips from the RNID include keeping a distance from speakers where possible, and taking regular breaks from loud areas to give your ears time to recover during an event.
The organisation’s push for preventative measures such as earplugs comes amid reports that people with tinnitus can face waits of up to three years for NHS treatment , according to data published in February 2025.
This past June, Purple Disco Machine shared he was experiencing hearing loss and tinnitus so “severe” he had to take about a month off of touring in order to recover.
For more on artists’ experience with hearing loss, revisit Yewande Adeniran’s feature on reframing disability in electronic music .
