Ten of our twelve cranial nerves pass through the dorsal cochlear nucleus ... a grand central station for the auditory nerves. Hearing and music blow a beautiful wind through the emotional soul. And then there is Whelan's Gate and the Navigators.

Avoid loud spaces which are ototoxic. Bands and establishments like Whelan's Gate Irish Pub, and Newfoundland's the Navigators, with their notorious volumes - while they wear earplugs - are a crime they currently get away with. A crime against the beauty of music and the well being of their fans and patrons.

Most everyone who leaves one of these establishments like Whelan's Gate leaves with a measurable amount of permanent hearing loss, that easily accumulates depending on their exposure, it can easily be that one time, or overall long term exposure, becoming mentally life threatening. In one night in one single exposure I was left with debilitating hyperacusis, permanent hearing loss, chronic tinnitus cultivating suicidal thoughts with ears swollen for 3 months. Please share this awareness and avoid this threat to your health and well being.

Two and one-half half years later I live a more secluded medicated life, suffering a daily feeling of acoustic trauma and concussion, a constant intense high frequency tinnitus, and a permanent hearing loss in the frequency profile region characteristic of the Navigator's music, which is a constant stress upon the long lasting peace I used to enjoy, a cruel consequence undermining my daily well being and musical, emotional sensibility - a level of daily stress I believed impossible

Ironic is it not, that for 20 years I avoided any frequency of attending these establishments because you could not hear yourself, think let alone talk. Health Canada warns against these sound levels: if you have to yell in someone's ear to be heard - get out of there immediately - permanent hearing loss in five minutes. I would have never believed such a threat existed in a public space. I woke up the next morning feeling deaf. Three days later I went to Emergency for acoustic trauma ( i call it rape and assault ). In one night
​​
my life was was thrown into an experience of permanent suffering, and noticeable permanent hearing loss.

Whelan's Gate may take this down, but I will see it gets widely published in local media. And that patron's are informed, at time of entry, of Whelan's Gate's ototoxic environment, and the criminal failure of their obligatory "duty of care" to music lovers who are unaware of the dangers within.

For comment, assistance, or collaboration, please contact me at frankledrew @ gmail.com.