With summer on the horizon, festival season is fast approaching. Music festivals are a fun, wonderful summertime tradition across the U.S., but did you know the noise levels around a stage can reach 110 decibels or more? That’s the near-equivalent of standing next to a jackhammer that’s drilling into concrete. In short: loud music can damage your hearing.
Many music-lovers and concert-goers are unaware of just how acute the dangers of high-volume music is to their hearing. If you’ve ever been to a concert, you’re probably familiar with the ringing that stays in your ears for the hours or even days following the show. This is usually a temporary issue, and the time taken to recover can vary from person to person. If the ringing doesn’t stop and normal hearing does not recover, then it is considered tinnitus - a symptom of noise-induced hearing loss caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in your inner ear. A person with tinnitus may experience ringing, clicking, or roaring in their ears for which there is currently no cure. Most individuals with tinnitus simply get used to the ringing sounds in their ear and learn to live with it over time. When it comes to tinnitus and hearing loss, prevention is key!
Without completely forgoing music festivals this year in the best interest of your ears, what can do to protect your hearing?
Use Earplugs!
If you’re an avid concert-goer, you’re most at risk of noise-induced hearing loss due to the high volume and length of time you’re listening to it. If you go to multiple concerts, you up your chances of tinnitus simply by exposing your ears to the high decibels for long periods of time. The best thing you can do to protect your hearing while still enjoying the show is to wear earplugs. Musicians and DJs often wear earplugs themselves, so that’s all the more reason you should, too! The silicone and foam earplugs you can find easily at any drug store may not be your best bet, though. They often fit poorly and muffle sound. Instead, you can get special musicians earplugs that are custom-fit to your ear and will not distort sound quality. If you’re a music-enthusiast, they’re your best option to still enjoy loud music and concerts while protecting your hearing from damage. (If you don’t have earplugs but plan on attending a concert in the near future, try to stand at least 10 feet away from speakers and escape to a quieter area for breaks if you notice your ears are hurting.)
The best solution to hearing loss is prevention. Better Hearing Systems of NWLA can help! We offer the aforementioned musicians earplugs among other hearing accessories. If you’re unsure whether you may already be experiencing hearing loss, we also offer free hearing consultations and evaluations. Contact Better Hearing Systems before festival season is here, so you can enjoy with peace of mind (and ears) all the great music and shows summer has to offer!
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