Protect Your Hearing This Festival Season
It’s officially summer and, finally, festival season is here! Endless days that roll into the next, surrounded by great music and friends. Going to a festival or listening to live music? Don’t forget the essentials, especially protecting your hearing.
Tickets ✅
Sun cream ✅
Wellies ✅
Phone charger ✅
Earplugs ✅
Can festivals damage hearing?
Live music events regularly reach sound levels of 100-110 dB, and some areas near speakers can be even louder. At these volumes, hearing damage can occur much more quickly than many people realise.
After a festival you may notice:
Ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)
Muffled hearing
Distorted sounds
Difficulty following conversations
A feeling of fullness in the ears
These symptoms can be temporary and fade, but they’re signs that your ears have been exposed to potentially harmful noise levels. Repeated exposure can lead to permanent hearing damage.
Ways to protect your hearing this festival season
Wear earplugs
Custom filtered earplugs offer the most protection. They’re moulded to fit the shape of your ear for maximum protection. Although they’re more expensive initially, they often work out cheaper in the long run as they last longer.
Over the counter earplugs are a cheaper option and may be more suitable for festivals. Alpine Party Plugs are discreet, inexpensive and filtered. This means you can still enjoy the music while protecting your hearing.
Give your ears a rest
Try and give your ears a rest and have a break from the stage. Ideally every hour or so but if that isn’t possible, as often as you can. Even a quick trip to the loo will give your ears a little break from the noise of the stage.
Be mindful of where you stand
The closer you stand to the speakers, the more likely you are to damage your hearing. Moving a little further away can reduce the intensity of the sound reaching your ears.
Limit headphone volume to protect your hearing this festival season
After a full day or weekend of loud music, your ears need some time to recover. Keep the volume low or, better still, give your ears a break from headphones for a day or two.
When should you get your hearing checked?
It’s a good idea to get your hearing checked if you experience:
Persistent ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Muffled or distorted hearing that doesn’t return to normal after listening to live music
Difficulty understanding speech in noisy places
Concerns about repeated exposure to loud music
A hearing test can help identify any changes in your hearing and give you peace of mind. Still not sure if you get your hearing checked? Check out our blog Do I Need a Hearing Test?
