With the arrival of May, the season of concerts, festivals and outdoor events begins. Live music, lively atmospheres and long days of leisure are great fun, but they can also pose a significant risk to our hearing health.
At Auz Audiology, our hearing health specialists in San Fulgencio remind you that prolonged exposure to high noise levels can cause permanent hearing damage if the right measures are not taken. The good news is that protecting your hearing is easy when you know how.
How to protect your ears at concerts and festivals
Concerts often reach very high sound levels, especially near speakers or in enclosed spaces. Prolonged exposure can cause ringing, a blocked ear sensation or even permanent hearing loss.
Some key recommendations:
- Keep your distance from the speakers
The closer you are to the sound source, the greater the impact on your ears.
Try to position yourself in middle areas or away from the stage. - Rest your ears
If you are at a festival for several hours, take breaks every 60-90 minutes. Going to a quiet area helps your ears recover. - Use hearing protection
Custom hearing protectors allow you to enjoy music without sacrificing sound quality. At Auz Audiology, we offer custom-made hearing protectors designed for noisy environments, concerts and musical activities. - Avoid prolonged exposure
The longer you stay in a noisy environment, the greater the risk. Reducing exposure time is one of the most effective measures.
How many decibels are safe?
Sound volume is measured in decibels (dB). Above certain levels, the ear can be damaged.
Guideline levels
60 dB – Normal conversation (safe)
85 dB – Heavy traffic (prolonged exposure is dangerous)
95-100 dB – Small concerts (high risk)
110-120 dB – Festivals and nightclubs (very high risk)
130 dB – Hearing pain threshold
Experts recommend not being exposed to more than 85 dB for long periods. However, many concerts exceed 100 dB, which can cause hearing damage in less than 15 minutes.
If after a concert you notice ringing in your ears, a blocked ear sensation or difficulty understanding conversations, it is advisable to have a hearing check-up. At Auz Audiology, we carry out complete hearing assessments and personalised diagnosis to detect possible damage in time.
Do headphones damage hearing?
Headphones are not dangerous in themselves, but volume and usage time can be.
Basic rules for using headphones safely
- The 60/60 rule
No more than 60% of the volume
No more than 60 minutes at a time - Avoid turning up the volume in noisy places
If you need to turn the volume up too much, consider using noise-cancelling headphones. - Rest your ears
Take frequent breaks, especially if you listen to music for hours. - Pay attention to young people
Prolonged headphone use among teenagers is increasing hearing problems at earlier ages.
Enjoy music without compromising your hearing
Music is a fundamental part of leisure and wellbeing, especially during festival season. However, caring for your hearing today can prevent problems in the future.
At Auz Audiology, an independent hearing clinic in San Fulgencio, we offer:
Complete hearing assessment
Custom hearing protectors
Tinnitus treatment
Personalised fitting of hearing solutions
Follow-up and hearing check-ups
This May, enjoy music responsibly. Concerts and festivals are
unique experiences, and with a few simple measures you can continue enjoying music
for many years. Caring for your hearing today is an investment in your future quality of life.
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Discover safe decibel levels, how to use headphones without risk and advice from Auz
Audiology in San Fulgencio.
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