Ringing Ears After a Concert?

Those who enjoy going out and seeing their favorite band or singer play live often experience a ringing in their ears after a concert is over (this is also known as tinnitus). The "ringing" can be a high pitched whine or squeal. Some people have also described hearing "white noise" which is like the sound of static when the volume of the music is really loud or they are too close to the concert speakers. Ringing in the ears after the concert is over can sometimes last a day or two and although it is not a serious condition but, it can be extremely annoying.

The answer to why you experience ringing ears after a concert is simple - you have damaged your ears by subjecting them to the loud music and the screams of the audience. When exposed to loud noises, the hair cells in the inner ear become damaged causing the ringing sound. Those hair cells produce nerve signals that travel to the auditory area of the brain when a sound is heard. Normally, these cells only fire when they are stimulated by a sound. Unfortunately, when the cells have experienced trauma, they fire on their own causing the ringing in the ear or tinnitus. Obviously, the answer to this problem is to not avoid concerts. We all need a little fun in life. Plus, going to a few concerts a year will not permanently cause tinnitus or a ringing in your ears. Most likely within a few days, of ringing ears after a concert , your ears will heal and the ringing will subside. But, there are some things that you can do to avoid having to deal with this annoying affliction.

Regular concert goers have enlisted the help of ear plugs. You still are able to experience the thrill and the music of the concert but, you are giving your ears an extra layer of protection. Some ear plugs are even so small that no one will even be aware that you are wearing them. Some band members have learned to protect their hearing from years worth of exposure to loud music by wearing ear plugs every time they sit down to their instrument. You should also try to avoid close proximity to the speakers. The closer to the speakers you are, the greater the noise resulting in greater ear damage. Once you have gotten tinnitus, or ringing in your ears, from a concert, there really is no medical way to cure it. The only thing you can do is live with it until it goes away. Normally the hair cells in the inner ear will heal themselves but it is possible for them to break off entirely causing permanent damage to your hearing. Rarely do people experience permanent ear damage from attending concerts. It normally takes extended exposure to loud noises to cause permanent damage.

So the question is, if you want to avoid tinnitus or ringing ears after a concert , how can you tell if you are exposing your ears to something that is too loud? Simple - if you are within three feet of someone and you have to raise your voice for the person to hear you talking, the noise level within the environment is too loud. Sound louder than 110 decibels will damage your hearing. It is recommended that you do not expose your ears to a noise level over 85 decibels which is roughly the sound of a lawn mower.