Fall in Austin brings plenty of opportunities to enjoy live music. Whether you’re heading to ACL – Austin City Limits – this fall or catching a show at an intimate indoor venue, there’s something for everyone in a city known for its live music scene. Wherever you enjoy the show, hearing protection should always be part of the concert experience.
Loud sounds can damage your hearing, and the risk increases with both volume and exposure time. Long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. At higher volumes, hearing damage can occur in minutes. OSHA guidance, NIH hearing guidance
How Loud Is Too Loud, and How Long Is Too Long?
The noise level at both indoor and outdoor concerts can vary significantly, depending on concert length, venue size, seat location, music type, and placement of speakers.
The usual decibel level can range anywhere from 70 dB for classical music to 120 dB for EDM or heavy metal. Generally, exposure to 85 dB is considered safe for up to 8 hours, though this decreases to 15 minutes at 100 dB and even further to 2 minutes at 110 dB. Further exposure can cause hearing loss and ringing in the ears, called tinnitus.
Protecting Your Hearing
Earplugs have long been used for this reason. All earplugs have a noise reduction rating (NRR) that describes how many decibels they block. The general recommendation is that anywhere from 15-25 db of NRR are helpful in reducing harmful levels of noise.
The easiest earplugs to obtain are the standard industrial foam earplugs, which have an NRR of 30 dB. Custom-fit ear plugs can have a similar NRR also. While they offer a significant reduction in dB exposure (and are generally very cheap and easy to find), they can also overly reduce the treble frequencies and make the concert sound feel very muffled.
Concert-specific earplugs, also called high-fidelity earplugs, use certain acoustic filters to evenly reduce the dB level across all frequencies, which results in a clearer, but quieter musical experience.
Make hearing protection part of your ACL checklist – and a habit for every concert after it!
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
At Sinus and Snoring Specialists, we offer full-spectrum ENT care, including broad-based audiology services. Schedule a hearing consultation to discuss your hearing health and protection options, so you can keep enjoying the music you love.