Protecting Your Ears From Loud Music

Whether you're at a club, music festival, or simply listening to your favourite album through your headphones, exposure to loud music can put your hearing at risk. Even a one-time encounter with extreme noise can lead to permanent hearing loss and long-term tinnitus. What’s good to know is that once you understand the risks, you can start making any necessary adjustments to protect your hearing. In this blogpost we’ll look at how hearing can be damaged by loud noise, and deliver some simple tips to help you enjoy music without compromising your health.

How Loud is Too Loud?

Sound-sensing cells, often referred to as hair cells, are responsible for translating sound wave vibrations into electrical signals that your brain perceives as sound. These delicate cells can be damaged by noise levels at 85dB and above. While it's unlikely that you'll carry a decibel meter around with you, you can get a sense of what this level of noise is by comparing it to other noise levels you might be familiar with, such as a food blender, which is 85dB. Music at a club or concert can reach 110dB. This should give you a rough idea of the noise levels that could harm your hearing. It’s important to remember, however, that the duration of exposure and your proximity to the sound source are just as crucial as the decibel level itself.

Is Hearing Loss from Loud Music Permanent?

Listening to excessively loud music or noise can overstimulate and overwork your sound-sensing cells, causing them to become unresponsive. A single instance of exposure to loud music may result in temporary hearing loss, lasting from a few minutes to a few days. Typically, with some rest from loud noises, these cells can recover. However, continuous exposure to overly loud music can weaken them, preventing recovery and even leading to the hair cells dying completely, resulting in permanent hearing loss.

Can Loud Music Cause Tinnitus?

Tinnitus might occur when your sound-sensing cells are damaged, causing nerve cells in your brain (neurons) to seek out signals that aren't being received due to the damage. This hyperactivity in the neurons can make your brain more aware of the noise it generates, which is what people with tinnitus perceive as ringing or buzzing in their ears. Although tinnitus can be temporary, continuous exposure to loud music increases the risk of permanent tinnitus. Keep in mind, however, that everyone's susceptibility to noise-related hearing issues differs, which can mean that you’ll only start to notice problems after the damage has been done. That’s why you’ll want to do everything possible to prevent any noise-induced hearing loss, by protecting your ears wherever possible.

Top Tips for Listening to Music Safely

Concerts, Clubs, or Festivals:

• Always carry earplugs when you anticipate exposure to loud sounds. High-quality earplugs can preserve sound quality while muffling it to protect your ears. At our clinic we are able to offer custom-made earplugs for musicians, concert-goers and DJs – anyone who is at risk or noise-induced hearing loss.
• Stay clear of the speakers: the closer you are, the greater the risk to your hearing.
• Take regular breaks: quieter areas in clubs can provide a respite for your ears.

When Using Headphones:

• Keep your phone's volume at a safe level; resist the temptation to turn it up high, even in noisy environments.
• Consider using noise-cancelling headphones to block out surrounding sounds without increasing the volume.

How to Recognise Hearing Damage

If you’re concerned about any aspect of your hearing, visiting a skilled audiologist at the earliest opportunity is key to getting the guidance you need. They will be able to address your concerns, assess your hearing health, and give you advice on how to protect your ears. A hearing screening will determine whether your hearing meets the normal threshold, while a hearing test will measure your hearing sensitivity to various sounds. Even if your hearing test doesn’t highlight any immediate problems, an audiologist can offer advice for ongoing protection and help with common ear issues, such as getting rid of a build up of ear wax.

Taking proactive steps to protect your hearing – and building a trusted relationship with a skilled audiologist – will help to ensure that your ears are well looked after, and that you can listen to music safely.

Find Out More

If you have any concerns regarding your hearing, and would like to visit one of our Consultant Audiologists, please call 020 7244 4200 or make an appointment online.