Hearing protection

01The short version

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Wear earplugs. From the first song, all weekend, and not only when it hurts. The damage from loud sound is usually gradual, so you do not notice it until some of it is permanent.

The NIH says the sensory hair cells in the inner ear do not grow back in humans. It also says noise-induced hearing loss is the only type of hearing loss that is completely preventable. Both lines are about you.

02How loud is loud

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Sound is measured in decibels. The scale used for hearing risk is A-weighted decibels, written dBA. The NIH says sounds at or below 70 dBA are unlikely to cause hearing loss, even after a long time. Long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause it. The louder it is, the less time it takes.

NIOSH, the CDC institute for workplace safety, lists bars, nightclubs and large sporting events among places that average 95 dBA or higher. At that level you likely have to shout to be heard by someone 3 feet away.2

Our festival files do not record sound levels, so we cannot tell you how loud a given festival is. Assume you are in the concert range above, and closer to the speakers means louder.

03How long your ears can take it

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NIOSH recommends keeping exposure to 85 dBA averaged over an eight-hour workday. For every 3 dBA increase, it says to cut the allowed time in half. It also says everyone differs in how easily noise damages them.

A festival day is not a workday and this is not a safe-time calculator. Use it to see the shape of the problem. At concert levels you pass a recommended daily limit in about an hour or less. A festival lasts most of a day, and several in a row.

The World Health Organization published a global standard in 2022 that asks venues to keep sound to no more than 100 dBA averaged over any 15 minutes. It says the limit cannot remove all risk, especially for people who go to loud events often.3

04Signs you have already been hit

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• Your ears ring after you leave.
• Sounds seem dull or flat when you get back to quiet.
• You need to turn the car stereo or your phone up more than you did before.
• Speech sounds muffled or you struggle to follow a conversation in a noisy room.

The NIH says loud noise can cause tinnitus, a ringing, buzzing or roaring in the ears or head. It may fade, but it can also continue constantly or on and off for life.

It also says sometimes the hearing loss is temporary and clears up in 16 to 48 hours. Recent research suggests the loss may seem to go away while some long-term damage remains. The dull feeling that is gone by morning is not a free pass.

05What to do at the festival

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1. 1
   Wear earplugs

   The NIH says to wear earplugs or other protective devices when you are doing something loud. Put them in before the first act, not after the first headache.

2. 2
   Keep your distance

   The NIH rule of thumb is to avoid noise that is too loud, too close or too long. The speaker stacks are the closest and loudest spot in the field.

3. 3
   Move away when you can

   If you cannot lower the noise or protect yourself from it, the NIH says to move away from it. A spot farther back or to the side is a valid place to stand.

4. 4
   Take breaks

   The CDC report lists lowering the volume, using hearing protection and taking breaks from noisy activities as protective behaviors. Rest your ears in the quiet areas, camp or a car between sets.

5. 5
   Protect kids

   The NIH says to protect the ears of children who are too young to protect their own. Some festivals take all ages, so check the age rule on the festival page.

Our take on gear. Foam earplugs from a drugstore are better than bare ears. Earplugs sold for concerts cost more and many people find them more comfortable to wear for hours. Either beats nothing. Bring a spare pair, because they get lost.

You can measure the room. NIOSH makes a Sound Level Meter app for iOS devices. Treat it as a rough guide, since a phone microphone is not a lab instrument.2

06You will not be the weird one

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The CDC reports nearly one in four US adults aged 20 to 69, 24.4 percent, show evidence of noise-induced hearing loss. It also reports earlier noise exposure might raise the risk of age-related hearing loss later.

The same report says that in an earlier survey about 80 percent of US adults said they never or seldom used hearing protection at loud sports or entertainment events. A 2022 survey found 61.2 percent said they would wear it if it were provided. Most people skip earplugs. That is the problem, not a crowd to follow.

07After the festival

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Give your ears a day. The NIH lists headphones at maximum volume among loud sounds, at 94 to 110 dBA, so keep the volume low on the drive home and for a while after.

The NIH says to have your hearing tested if you think you might have hearing loss. Ringing that does not stop, muffled hearing, or trouble following conversation are all reasons. A hearing test is quick and there is nothing to lose by asking.

The CDC lists attending a concert among the noisy activities that can cause noise-induced hearing loss.4

08If you are Deaf or hard of hearing

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The ADA says businesses open to the public must communicate with people with disabilities as effectively as they communicate with others. The accessibility guide covers what to ask for and links the festivals that publish an accessibility page.