Attending concerts is one of the popular pastimes of people across the country. Whether it’s a folk concert or a rock gig, or a festival with hundreds of different actors, you might love spending time with your friends, letting loose on the dance floor, soaking up the atmosphere and listening to your favorite artists performing live. Some of the greatest memories are made at concerts, and the last thing you want to be doing is worrying about your hearing.
However, there’s no arguing against the fact that such concerts can be damaging for your ears. The loud music can have a serious effect on your hearing, as you’ll know if you’ve ever woken up the next morning with your ears still ringing. And once your hearing is lost, there is no way to truly gain it back. The best way you can protect your hearing in these situations is by wearing earplugs when attending concerts. Hearing protection is recommended by audiologists, particularly for people who are already experiencing hearing loss or anyone who regularly experiences the loud noises of concerts and gigs. When you’re choosing your earplugs, it’s important to know which features will work best for this particular situation.
The different options
Earplugs do not just come in one variety. They are used for a number of different reasons, and the design of an earplug will vary depending on what they are designed for. From swimming and hunting to sleeping or working in industrial locations, each purpose has a different set of considerations. For going to concerts, the best earplugs are those designed with that specific reason in mind.
The quality of sound
If you’re listening to your favorite musician, you want to be able to hear every word and every note. Luckily, earplugs for concerts are designed to allow this to happen. Other earplugs, such as those used for sleeping, may produce muffled and quiet sounds that hugely reduce the clarity of your experience. In contrast, you want a pair that will simply decrease the volume of the sound without losing out on its quality. If you’re a music fan, this will be one of the most important qualities in your earplugs. It’s worth consulting an audiologist about the best options that have been tested and proven to have no impact on sound quality and fidelity.
Material
The second aspect of concert earplugs you should consider is their material. Foam, wax and silicone are the materials used for the majority of earplugs. Wax earplugs are great for swimming due to being waterproof, whereas foam earplugs offer maximum noise reduction and fit snugly inside the ear, making them the perfect choice for a good night’s sleep. Both these materials are often single-use only, meaning they aren’t particularly environmentally friendly. For concert use, silicon earplugs are the best option. Not only are they reusable, but they also lower volume without fully blocking out surrounding sound. This makes them terrible for sleeping with, but perfect for wearing to concerts and still hearing your favorite tunes.
Comfort
The worst part of bad quality earphones is that they may start to hurt your ears after a while, having the opposite effect to what you intended. While you’re enjoying your concert, you don’t want to be distracted by any pain in your ears, or even discomfort. You want to forget that your earplugs are there, and simply lose yourself in the music. This is also where silicon earplugs can be useful. Unlike foam or wax plugs, they do not enter the inner ear. Instead, they seal the ear canal from outside. This makes them far less potentially uncomfortable, allowing you to relax and enjoy your concert in peace.
Sound level options
Just as earplugs come in different materials and shapes, they will also come with different sound level options. Depending on your preferences, you may want the volume of your experience to be reduced by different levels and it’s useful to know exactly what these are. Filter options can range from nine decibels to 25dB, with the former removing less sound than the latter. It’s definitely worth investigating your options and deciding which level of filter you prefer. This could depend on a number of factors including the potential volume of the concert itself, the frequency of your concert visits and your own personal volume preferences.
What next
Choosing the best earplugs for your specific needs can be difficult, given the wide range of options out there. It’s always worth speaking to an expert. To discuss earplugs for concerts with an audiologist, call Professional Hearing Aid Associates at (785) 940-4101.
