Nicki Potterton, aka funky house DJ Miss Behavin’, 28, first realised she had damaged her hearing after playing a particularly loud gig. Like countless other young clubbers, the constant thrill of banging vibes has left her facing a lifetime of hearing problems.

Experts predict that many among the clubbing generation will suffer significant hearing loss before they are middle-aged, but, sadly, they should not expect salvation from the NHS. The Government admitted this week, in the face of protest from deafness charities, that waiting lists for hearing services are “unacceptably long”. It promised action and introduced new waiting-time targets. There is, however, no extra money for health services to meet them.

Angela King, a senior audiologist with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, says: “The action plan is a good idea but, with no money ring-fenced for it, what’s going to make it happen?” So it’s up to clubbers to protect themselves, or face joining ever longer queues for hearing services in 20 years’ time. What can they do?

One of the first lessons is that it isn’t just about simple hearing loss. Ironically, Potterton suffers from hyperacusis, a sensitivity to sound at levels that do not trouble other people. “I went to a gig in London and the DJ didn’t turn up so I stepped in. The control knob on the mixer had come off and it was on maximum. But I couldn’t turn it down. I knew as I packed away my records that the hearing in my left ear had gone. For three days I experienced a lot of pain. It was terrifying. I cried for most of that time because I thought it might be the end of my career.

“After three days the hearing came back, but I was hearing everything louder. Now I put the phone to my other ear, which is less sensitive. When I am DJing I keep the volume down and wear earplugs, which I had made.”

Most young clubbers and personal-stereo users are unaware of the dangers because the changes taking place in their ears are subtle and will not translate into serious hearing damage until later in life. Sound-related hearing loss occurs because, over extended periods, loud noise damages the tiny sensory hair cells, deep inside the inner ear, which quiver as a result of sound and transmit nerve signals to the brain. We all lose these hair cells as we get older, but exposure to loud noise accelerates the process. First, the high frequencies go — the ring of a doorbell, for example — and gradually the loss works down the spectrum until it affects the frequencies of normal speech.

King says: “People who put stress on their ears regularly are more likely to experience problems earlier in life, possibly in middle age.”

Government regulations stipulate that hearing protection must be worn at work if daily average noise levels reach 85 decibels. Each increase of three decibels represents a doubling of sound energy and halves the safe listening time. So dancing to music at 100 decibels — not unusual in a club — for just 75 minutes is the equivalent of being exposed to 40 hours a week at the danger level of 85 decibels. “If you regularly spend an evening a week in a club, you are putting yourself at risk,” says King.

Listening to MP3 players, of course, is also a problem. There is evidence that those listening in noisy environments such as London Underground turn up the volume to about 95 decibels. The signs are that many young people are not aware of the dangers. But there is some simple advice from hearing experts that may help to prevent hearing loss.

Give it a rest If you’re listening to loud music, take regular breaks to give your ears a chance to recover. The higher the volume, the less time you should listen. Clubbers should try to get out for a breath of fresh air every now and then.

Turn down the volume There are two general guidelines. If you are listening to music on an MP3 player in a quiet room, having the volume set at 50 per cent or below shouldn’t cause any damage. If you are in a club, or listening to an MP3 player, and people standing right next to you have to shout, the music is too loud.

Get the gear Buy earplugs specifically designed for clubs. Cotton wool is ineffective and can leave tiny filaments in the ear canal. Use sound-isolating or noise-cancelling headphones to use with your music player, but remember that sound-isolating earphones at full volume are more dangerous than normal earphones. If you have an iPod, download the volume-limiting software: apple.com/support

Position yourself At a club or gig, do not stand or dance near loudspeakers. And try not to use an MP3 player in noisy environments unless you have the right headphones; it’s likely that you’ll turn the volume too high.

For more information on looking after your hearing, visit www.dontlosethemusic.com. Call 0845 6005555 to take the RNID’s hearing check or visit a David Ormerod Hearing Centre (0845 2703916 for locations) for a free test

Tuned out Jeff Rich, 53, was drummer with Status Quo for 16 years until 2000. He now uses a hearing aid.

“I used to have 4,500 watts of PA system behind me amplifying just the drums. We would play for two hours a night, five nights a week, for a three-month tour. The sound was fantastic; you could feel it through your body. Afterwards, I’d have a ringing in my ears and every time I played it took longer to go. Now I have it all the time.

“I came off a tour in the late 1990s and I couldn’t hear the television. When I turned it up to a volume I could hear, my wife started complaining and I realised that I had a problem. In pubs I would have no idea what people were talking about. I have about 50 per cent hearing loss in one ear and 30 per cent in the other.”

Rich’s son Marc, 23, also a rock musician, now wears custom-made earplugs. “I’ve seen the damage the music has done my dad; I don’t want my hearing to pack in too.”

The must-have teen accessory

Disposable earplugs are cheap but not great for gigs and clubs; £2 for 3 pairs. Boots 0845 0708090

Reusable plugs are good for gigs and clubs as people won’t notice them; £10-£15 www.earplugged.co.uk

Noise-cancelling headphones cut out background din; £99.50. John Lewis 08456 049049

Custom-made; £70-£150. Custom Made Ear Protection, 01305 264021

Source: dontlosethemusic.com

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