With the many festivals and concerts that take place in the summer, protecting your hearing is essential. Discover the advice of Dr. Gérald Kierzek to limit the damage of noise on your ears.
The summer season rhymes with festivals, parties and dance evenings. But beware of excess decibels! It is essential to pay attention to your hearing throughout this period. According to data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO), hearing loss affects 1.5 billion people worldwide.
Since 2017, festivals must not exceed 102 decibels over 15 minutes and 118 decibels over 15 minutes, remind her Hearing Foundation. However, it should not exceed daily more than 15 minutes at 95 decibels and 4 minutes at 101 decibels. A relatively significant difference with the limit imposed on closed or open places that receive the public. So, in order not to damage your hearing and avoid permanent hearing loss or to avoid tinnitus, several recommendations should be followed.
Use an app to test the soundscape
Dr Gérald Kierzek recalls “that beyond 95 decibels, it becomes toxic for the ear”. So, he advises downloading a sound level meter on your smartphone. This allows you to measure the number of decibels and know when to deviate a little more from the music. This way you enjoy the festival while protecting your hearing.
Wear earplugs
Contrary to what one might think, earplugs do not prevent music from being heard. “They allow you to listen to music but attenuate noise while protecting your ears”, says Dr. Kierzek. Advice shared by most hearing healthcare professionals. These caps block out dangerous sound frequencies without taking away from sound quality.
If you don’t like the feel of earplugs, wear noise canceling headphones. These act in the same way as earplugs and insulate the ears perfectly. They are also perfectly suitable for children.
take breaks
Another essential advice according to the doctor: take breaks every two hours. He recommends stopping for thirty minutes and moving away from loud music. This allows the ears to rest and not be too assaulted by the relatively loud noise that there is at the festival. For example, between two concerts, take a moment to hydrate and eat away from loud music.
Consult a GP online
Put his ears to rest
After a festival or a concert, put your ears to rest for 7 to 8 hours in a calm sound environment. “Putting your ears away from noise helps heal your ears”, explains the medical director of Doctissimo. During this break, limit wearing headphones with high volume or places with aggressive music. Prefer calm atmospheres and rest.