Arizona’s cool temperatures mean that event season is here, and with it comes concerts, festivals, and sporting events. When we go out to experience live music and cheer on our favorite teams, the invisible, but permanent risk of hearing damage often goes unnoticed until it is too late.
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Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by both the intensity and duration of sound. A single loud blast, such as from fireworks, can cause damage, as can prolonged exposure to loud sounds from concert or rave speakers. Public venue audio systems are designed to ensure everyone attending an event, including people in the back, can clearly hear the music and announcers. This means that individuals who are closer to the front of a venue near the speakers are at more risk. The risk for hearing loss remains regardless of whether an event is hosted indoors or outdoors. Outdoor venues often compensate for open space by increasing volume. According to OSHA guidelines, you can safely be in 90 decibels for eight hours. Every five-decibel increase cuts that safe time in half. At 130 decibels, your safe exposure time is less than two minutes.
To get an idea of how high noise levels at an event can reach, the Arizona Cardinals Stadium has been recorded to hit levels as loud as 130 decibels, which is equivalent to the noise produced by a jet engine taking off. At that level of loudness, serious damage to one’s hearing can occur almost instantly.
Why do my ears ring after enjoying a concert without hearing protection?
After I enjoyed my first concert without hearing protection, I experienced tinnitus, which is the medical term for the phantom perception of ringing in the ears. My tinnitus was so loud that I slept through my alarm clock the next day. If your ears ring after attending a loud event, that is your auditory system signaling stress or injury to the delicate sensory hair cells in your cochlea, the hearing organ. This damage can be temporary or permanent depending on how much damage has occurred. A person’s risk for damage increases through attending multiple loud concerts, sporting events or festivals without protection.
How to stay safe this event season
When educating people of all ages about hearing loss, I reference what I call the four ‘P’s – hearing loss is painless, progressive, permanent, but most importantly, preventable. Here are tips for enjoying Arizona’s event season without sacrificing your hearing for a lifetime.
Before you go
Ahead of an event, invest in high-quality hearing protection. Foam earplugs, such as the type that can be acquired at convenience stores, earmuffs, or custom silicone plugs are all effective. Filtered earplugs are a great option for concertgoers because they reduce volume to a safe level without compromising the sound quality of the music. You can even use Apple AirPods Pro 3, which have a new hearing protection mode.
Regardless of what type of protection you choose, I recommend looking for products that have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 25 decibels or higher.
Improper use of hearing protection, such as not inserting earplugs deep enough into the ear, can significantly reduce NRR value. To maximize protective ability, you can use earplugs and earmuffs together, though you may find that this will also significantly change the sound quality of what you hear.
During an event
Upon arrival to an event venue, choose your seat wisely and opt for spots that are away from speakers or amplifiers. While wearing hearing protection is the only surefire way to minimize risk of hearing loss, attendees can go a step further when they put distance between their ears and the speakers that are responsible for the loudest sound output. When the environment starts to get loud, be courteous, and resist the urge to shout in the ears of other guests, as screaming directly into someone’s ear can do just as much damage as the noise around you.
After the event
Hearing tests aren’t just recommended for people aged 55+. If you are a regular eventgoer and are frequently exposed to loud sounds, I recommend having a baseline hearing test completed at least once per year. Following an event, be aware of warning signs such as ringing in the ears or muffled hearing. Even if these symptoms eventually go away and you perceive that hearing has returned to normal, there is likely still damage to your auditory system that needs to be identified by an audiologist.
Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative, meaning every unprotected event adds up. However, once you have a hearing loss, it never comes back. By being aware of the risk and investing in hearing protection, you can ensure you can keep enjoying the sounds of Arizona’s vibrant event season for years to come.
Author: Dr. Clifford Olson, Au.D. is founder of Applied Hearing Solutions.
