4 Top Tips for Keeping your hearing safe at a festival

For many of us, music isn’t just a form of entertainment, it’s a part of life. It can create an energy, it can lift your mood, it can be a form of escapism. It’s a beautiful art form, and even a universal language. It’s a big part of our social scene, and can be a real connector of people.

But unfortunately, it’s inevitable that if you frequently listen to music that’s too loud, you will cause long term damage to your hearing. Especially for extended amounts of time, like at a festival for example!

We can listen to 85 decibels of noise for around 10 hours safely. And if you can imagine that the standard speaking voice is around 65 decibels, you can appreciate how loud a festival actually is. An average outdoor music festival is expected to reach 120 decibels! But there are ways to enjoy these events, whilst still preserving our hearing, and preventing that dreaded ringing.

1. Wear earplugs!

Earplugs are an efficient and easy way of preventing noise damage. It can be very discreet, and means that although the music will be subdued, you can still be in the heart of all the action. Some people don’t like this option because they think that it will affect the quality of the music, but we can assure you that if you choose the right ear plugs, it doesn’t. The music will of course be quieter, but the quality of the sound will go unaffected. If you’re a frequent festival goer, or even a performer, it could be that a pair of custom plugs would be better suited.

2. Take a break.

We don’t mean to put a dampener on your fun, but there’s always a filler set at a festival! And this could be the time to move away from the speakers, so your ears aren’t constantly exposed to noise. Take this time to pop to the toilets, grab a drink, or eat some food, but try and consciously do this away from the excessive sound.

3. Measure the noise.

Your smartphone can record noise levels, and can be such a good way of keeping your hearing in check. Download an app and not only will you see what level the noise is at, but you’ll also get the helpful red flashing light when the noise levels have become dangerous. This option is particularly great for younger children too, who might need something more visual.

4. Take a recovery day.

Whenever you attend a concert, your ears are likely to suffer, even if you wear ear protection like ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones. Especially if you have pushed your ears to the limit, it is wise to go on a “noise diet” for the 24 hours following a concert. Take a day to recover from the damage you have done, avoiding loud sounds, taking a break from your headphones, or using them only at a low level, and staying as quiet as you possibly can, to give your ears a break, even from commonplace, every day noise. This can allow your hearing a chance to recover, and it may reduce any residual ringing in the ears.

We really hope this helps, but if you’d like a bit more support around noise protection, or if you have some specific questions, please do get in touch. We’d love to help. Enjoy the festival!