During the summer, music enthusiasts have had the opportunity to enjoy festivals and outdoor events once again. However, there is a significant danger that often goes unnoticed: the decibel level.
Prolonged exposure to high sound levels can lead to irreversible damage, even if the consequences are not immediately apparent. Symptoms such as buzzing or tinnitus may be felt directly, but there are also invisible yet equally concerning effects.
While our hearing naturally degrades over time, it deteriorates more rapidly when exposed to excessively loud noise. It seems logical, yet few people take proper measures to protect their ears from such auditory assaults. Although exposure to loud noise doesn't always result in immediate tinnitus, it can still be dangerous.
Determining when sound becomes noise is subjective and depends on our activities and personal preferences. However, there is an objective threshold beyond which hearing damage becomes a risk.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lengthy exposure to sound levels below 75 dB(A) does not cause hearing damage. Once this limit is exceeded, the risk of damage increases, and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk becomes.
For every 3 dB(A) increase, the "safe" listening period is halved. For example, a daily exposure of 8 hours at 80 dB(A) is considered safe, but a one-hour exposure at 90 dB(A) can already be detrimental to hearing (as advised by the Superior Health Council on MP3 players).
Endemic hearing loss?
Philippe Lefebvre, an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) professor at the University of Liège recently told RTBF that, in a few years, almost one in three individuals over the age of 65 will complain of hearing loss.
Lefebvre explained that while the population may not have more hearing difficulties than in the past, it is exposed to higher levels of noise. Contributing factors include lawn mowers, power tools, vacuums, headphones, and noise pollution.
Credit: Belga / Christophe Ketels
"When you are exposed to noise, you experience hearing loss,” he told RTBF. “Fortunately, it is often temporary, but it serves as a significant warning because full recovery of your hearing is rarely achieved. Thus, continuous exposure to a noisy environment gradually accumulates permanent hearing loss."
"When we attend concerts or festivals frequently, we may not notice any immediate effects. However, if this exposure continues, our ears will gradually deteriorate... The problem is that this deficit develops insidiously. By the time we start experiencing problems, it's often too late, as the damage becomes irreversible."
Earplugs or... helmet?
According to Belgian survey in 2021, 9.4% of participants reported having hearing loss, and 34% of those individuals used hearing aids. Furthermore, 9.4% of the entire population in Belgium reported hearing loss, while over 11% of adults over 18 years old experienced hearing loss. The survey showed that among Belgians aged 65-74, approximately one in five (19%) reported having hearing loss, while one in three (33%) individuals above the age of 74 reported the same.
Various options exist to address the issue of hearing loss, including the use of classic earplugs typically provided at music events, which offer an attenuation rate of around 15 to 20 dB. Philippe Lefebvre noted that wearing a helmet, which provides a 40 dB reduction, would be the most effective protection. However, it is impractical for individuals to wear a helmet at a festival.
Therefore, the best option, according to Lefebvre, is custom-made earplugs. Though they come with a certain cost (around €100), they offer the significant advantage of attenuating all frequencies by 25 to 30 dB uniformly. On the other hand, regular earplugs tend to attenuate low frequencies more than high frequencies, resulting in less pleasant and distorted sound.
Lefebvre concluded by saying that, even though hearing degradation may not be visible or immediately noticeable, it is indeed present. Therefore, it is essential to have our hearing regularly tested and take measures to protect our ears.
