Ludwig van Beethoven said, “Music can change the world” and 200 years later, science has proven him to be correct. Of course, we don’t need science to know the joy that music brings into our lives—that it helps us feel emotions or escape when needed, gets us excited for a workout, or evokes feelings of nostalgia. 

What science does tell us, however, is that technically the reason we enjoy listening to music is because it activates parts of the reward center in our brain. It also stimulates our brain because “decoding” music is actually a complex task that requires “the auditory system to integrate the sequentially ordered sounds into a coherent musical perception” (similiar to the way our brains understand verbal conversations).

There are more benefits to listening to music than just giving our brains a healthy workout. It can help lower anxiety, boost energy, enhance exercise performance, lighten one’s mood, and have an overall positive effect on one’s mind, body, and health. 

Still, while there’s nothing quite like going to hear live music at a concert or blasting a pop song during a workout, it is important to note that listening to loud music for an extended period of time can cause lasting damage to your hearing.

The Truth About Ear Damage From Loud Music

Most people know that a loud concert can potentially damage our ears and that earplugs are advised (even if not all of us follow that guidance), but the damage doesn’t occur only at concerts—listening to loud sounds through earphones can also cause harm.

, “Nearly one in four (24 percent) of U.S. adults aged 20 to 69 years has features of his or her hearing test in one or both ears that suggest noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).” 

Noise-induced hearing loss is commonly caused by exposure to excessively loud sounds, and results in symptoms like an inability to hear high-pitched sounds, muffled or distorted speech, and tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear). 

Unfortunately, the damage from noise-induced hearing loss is permanent.

Noise-induced hearing loss can occur after long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels (dB). Sounds below 70 dB are considered “safe” and unlikely to cause hearing loss.

It won’t be shocking to learn that concerts can range from 100 to 120 dBs (and sometimes even higher). In comparison, typically city traffic is around 85 decibels and a lawnmower is 90 dB. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following exposure times to loud sounds to prevent hearing damage:

Needless to say, most concerts last longer than 15 minutes, which means every time you attend one, you’re putting your hearing at risk.

As noted before, the good news is that noise-induced hearing loss is completely preventable. This means you don’t need to stop going to concerts; instead, you just need to make a little effort to protect your hearing while enjoying the music.

A few ways to protect your hearing (and prevent hearing loss) at concerts include:

Choose outdoor concerts when possible. Most outdoor venues have fewer surfaces for sound vibrations to reverberate off of, which means lower decibel levels, sometimes as much as 30 decibels lower.

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The most common earplugs (and the ones you’ll often be given for free at a concert) are foam earplugs. These are absolutely better for protection against loud noises than wearing no ear plugs at all, but they don’t always fit well and can fall out of your ear. 

Silicone earplugs are a step up from foam earplugs because they’re reusable, durable, and are less likely to push earwax deeper into the ear canal.

Here are a few other things to consider when choosing earplugs:

Before purchasing any earplugs, read reviews and consider trying out different options to find the ones that best suit your needs and provide the most enjoyable concert experience while protecting your hearing.

Tips for Safely Listening to Your Stereo or Headphones

Listening to music on your stereo or through your headphones for long periods of times or at loud volumes can be harmful to your hearing, but there’s no reason to give it up if you take these ear protection precautions:

Take listening breaks. Give your ears time to rest and recover, especially when you’re listening to louder music. Experts suggest limiting your listening through personal hearing devices to 60 minutes a day.

This content is made available for educational purposes only and to provide a general understanding of issues around hearing loss, hearing health, and the hearing aid industry. It is not medical advice and should not be treated as such. By using this website you understand that the information contained herein should not be used as a substitute for competent advice from a licensed health care professional in your state. Furthermore, you agree to absolve Eargo of any liability or loss that you or any other person may incur from use of the information you access through this website. Any testimonials used are from actual customers about results they personally achieved and are not intended to guarantee that current or future customers will achieve the same or similar results; rather, these testimonials represent what is possible. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information shared on or through this website, the information may inadvertently contain inaccuracies or typographical errors. Because scientific, technology, and business practices are constantly evolving, you agree that Eargo is not responsible for the views, opinions, or accuracy of facts referenced on or through this website, or for any errors or omissions that may occur.

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Listening to music can have health benefits, but it's important to protect your ears against damage or hearing loss. Read on for hearing protection tips.

Hearing Protection Tips For Concerts And Listening To Music

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