Ear plugs at Concerts

For over 50 years, rock concerts have developed and grown into the extravaganzas they are today.

Throughout there was always this emphasis on loud, and while that’s changing with better sound systems, the risk remains for long-term damage.

At Soundwave Hearing Care, we understand that hearing is one of our most important senses. Without the ability to hear, communication becomes difficult and quality of life suffers. Statistically, one-in-ten Canadians have hearing loss, but many are reluctant to seek help from a Registered Audiologist or Registered Hearing Aid Practitioner. Hearing loss is treatable and begins with recognizing hearing loss, learning more about it, and taking back control of your life. At Soundwave Hearing Care’s Calgary clinic, that’s what we do but prevention can go a long way – like using ear plugs at concerts.

If you go to a concert, wear earplugs. On 4 May 2012, Plan B and Coldplay’s Chris Martin backed The Loud Music campaign, urging music fans to protect their hearing. Tinnitus, a constant buzzing in the ear, is often caused by loud music and is prevalent among musicians and frequent concert-goers. The campaign includes five tips on how music lovers can avoid permanent damage to their ears, using the acronym M.U.S.I.C. ’96 M: turn down your MP3 player; U: use chill out zones in clubs; S: stand back from speakers; I: invest in noise cancelling headphones; and C: carry earplugs with you, it won’t block the music but make it safer.

To understand how hearing is damaged, we must know how sound is perceived by people – as vibrations from the environment with different intensities and frequencies. Sound is picked up by the outer ear which funnels it through the ear canal, putting the eardrum into vibrations that act mechanically upon the middle ear (hammer, stirrup, and anvil), that then continue to the inner ear where they are converted into electrical impulses that reach the brain where they are perceived as true sounds.

These sound are measured in decibels with the lowest audible threshold being 0 decibels, with the upper threshold being 140 decibels where it becomes painful. A rock concert can generate around 100db to 120db (airplane engine go up to 100-110 decibels), and it is not uncommon to experience pain in your ears, ringing or temporary deafness afterward. So your mom was right – prolonged exposure to sounds above 100 decibels can cause hearing loss, either temporary or permanent, and more and more young adults are suffering from hearing loss as they get older.

If you have concerns about hearing loss, or are looking for advice on the right ear plugs, contact Soundwave Hearing Care toll free at 1-866-402-5552 in Lethbridge or direct in Calgary at 403-270-7425 High River at 403-270-7425 and Grande Prairie at 780-538-2744 today for friendly, professional hearing care for all ages, from infants to adults.