Several studies show the importance of protecting yourself from noise. Repeated exposure to noise in discotheques, during concerts or festivals is not without traumatic risk for the ears. The solution ? Earplugs and rest time!
Regularly listening to loud music at concerts and music festivals damages our ears! A German study published in the International Journal of Audiology in February 2022 evaluated 1000 young people aged 13 and over on their noise exposure habits; and measured that 60% of them felt intermittent tinnitus, associated with repeated exposure to noise in nightclubs, concerts, festivals… So to continue having fun and prevent tinnitus, there are still earplugs!
“We recommend wearing them as soon as you are exposed to sound levels above 85 decibels, which is obviously the case in concerts, festivals and nightclubs”, says Professor Mathieu Marx ORL at the Purpan Hospital. This threshold of 85 db has been identified as dangerous for the inner ear because at this sound level, the straped reflex occurs. This is a muscle inserted on the last small ossicle before the inner ear which limits the transmission of trauma to the inner ear. Today, more and more scientific hypotheses even suggest that lesions could appear above 75 decibels in the event of repeated exposure.
Take 24 hours of auditory rest
We advise heavy consumers at festivals and concerts to adopt plugs equipped with acoustic filters rather than those made of foam, as they protect by preserving a form of sound intensity. Similarly, avoid sticking to the speakers and take 20/30 minute breaks in auditory rest areas, which are increasingly present at festivals.
If, despite everything, tinnitus appears the next day, don’t panic, there is every chance that it will be transient, but we still recommend that you take 24 hours of auditory rest in an environment with normal noise levels.