The Importance of Hearing Protection at Concerts and Musical Events

Most people think they don’t need to wear hearing protection at concerts. They believe that if they are standing in the back of the venue or sitting in the upper deck, they will be safe from any damage to their hearing. This is not true! In fact, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), noise-induced hearing loss can occur when sound waves reach your ears and vibrate your eardrums.

What is Hearing Protection?

Hearing protection is any device that reduces the amount of sound that reaches your ears. This can be in the form of earplugs, earmuffs or both. There are two main types of hearing protection:

• Passive: These devices do not require any power source and work by physically blocking out noise. Earplugs are an example of passive hearing protection.
• Active: These devices use electronics to cancel out noise. They require a power source, usually batteries. Earmuffs that have noise-canceling capabilities are an example of active hearing protection.

Why is it Important to Wear Hearing Protection at Concerts?

Any loud noise can damage your hearing. This includes concerts, sporting events, fireworks display and even machinery. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that noise-induced hearing loss is the most common work-related injury in the United States. In other words, exposure to loud noise is a leading cause of preventable hearing loss!

It is crucial to wear hearing protection at concerts because the sound level can reach up to 100 decibels (dB). That is the equivalent of a chainsaw or ambulance siren! If you are exposed to this noise level for just 15 minutes, you could potentially experience damage to your hearing.

Even if you are not in the front row, wearing hearing protection at concerts is crucial. This is because the sound from the back of the venue can be just as loud as the sound from the front.

What are the Risks of Not Wearing Hearing Protection at Concerts?

If you do not wear hearing protection at concerts, you could experience noise-induced hearing loss. This is a condition that occurs when there is damage to the hair cells in your inner ear. These cells turn sound vibrations into electrical signals that go to your brain, interpreting them as sound. When these cells are damaged, they can no longer do their job correctly. This can lead to problems with hearing clarity and understanding speech.

You could also experience tinnitus or ringing in the ears. Tinnitus is a condition that causes a person to hear noises that are not there. These noises can be anything from a ringing sound to a buzzing sound. Tinnitus can be a sign of damage to the hair cells in your inner ear.