This article explains the impact of loud music on hearing. It discusses how sound is processed by the ears and the vulnerability of hair cells in the cochlea. It also emphasizes the importance of protecting one’s ears from loud sounds, such as wearing earplugs at concerts, to prevent temporary threshold shift and potential permanent hearing loss.
After a three-hour concert by her favorite Norwegian metal band, Anja finds it difficult to hear her friend rave about the show. It sounds like he’s speaking from across the room, and it’s tough to make out his muted voice over the ringing in her ears. By the next morning, the effect has mostly worn off, but Anja still has questions. What caused the symptoms? Is her hearing going to fully recover? And can she still go to concerts without damaging her ears?
To answer these questions, we first need to understand what sound is and how we hear it. Like a pebble creating ripples in water, sound is created when displaced molecules vibrate through space. While sound vibrations can travel through solids and liquids, our ears have evolved to process vibrations in the air. These waves of air pressure enter our ear canals and bounce off the eardrum. A trio of bones called the ossicular chain then carries those vibrations into the cochlea, transforming waves of air pressure into waves of cochlear fluid.
Here, our perception of sound begins to take form. The waves of fluid move the basilar membrane, a tissue lined with tens of thousands of hair cells. The specific vibration of these hair cells and the stereocilia on top of each one determine the auditory signal our brain perceives. Unfortunately, these essential cells are also quite vulnerable.
There are two properties of sound that can damage these cells. The first is volume. The louder a sound is, the greater the pressure of its vibrations. While the ear’s upper limits vary from person to person, close-range exposure to sound exceeding 120 decibels can instantly bend or blow out hair cells, resulting in permanent hearing damage. The pressure of more powerful sounds can even dislocate the ossicular chain or burst an eardrum.
The other side of this equation is the sound’s duration. While dangerously loud sounds can injure ears almost instantly, hair cells can also be damaged by exposure to lower sound pressure for long periods. For example, hearing a hand dryer is safe for the 20 seconds you’re using it. But if you listened for 8 consecutive hours, this relatively low-pressure sound would overwork the stereocilia and swell the hair cell’s supporting tissue.
Swollen hair cells are unable to vibrate with the appropriate speed and accuracy, making hearing muffled. This kind of hearing loss is known as a temporary threshold shift, and many people will experience it at least once in their lifetime. In Anja’s case, the loud sounds of the concert only took three hours to cause this condition. Fortunately, it’s a temporary ailment that usually resolves as swelling decreases over time. In most cases, simply avoiding hazardous sounds gives hair cells all they need to recover.
One temporary threshold shift isn’t likely to cause permanent hearing loss. But frequent exposure to dangerous sound levels can lead to a wide range of hearing disorders, such as the constant buzz of tinnitus or difficulty understanding speech in loud environments. Overworked hair cells can also generate dangerous molecules called reactive oxygen species. These molecules have unpaired electrons, driving them to steal electrons from nearby cells and cause permanent damage to the inner ear.
There are numerous strategies you can adopt for preventing hearing loss. Current research around earbud headphone use suggests keeping your volume at 80% or less if you’ll be listening for more than 90 minutes throughout the day. Noise-isolating headphones can also help you listen at lower volumes. Getting a baseline understanding of your hearing is essential to protecting your auditory system. Just like our eyes and teeth, our ears also need annual check-ups. Not all communities have access to audiologists, but organizations around the world are developing portable hearing tests and easy-to-use apps to bring these vital resources to remote regions.
Finally, wear earplugs when you’re knowingly exposing yourself to loud sounds for extended periods. An earplug’s effectiveness depends on how well you’ve inserted it, so be careful to read the instructions. But when worn correctly, they can ensure you’ll be able to hear your favorite band for many nights to come.
loud music – music that is played at a high volume – The loud music at the concert was causing my ears to ring.
hearing – the ability to perceive sound – His hearing was temporarily affected after attending the loud concert.
concert – a live music performance – I bought tickets to see my favorite band in a concert next week.
symptoms – physical or mental features indicating a condition or illness – One of the symptoms of hearing damage is experiencing ringing in the ears.
recovery – the process of returning to a normal state or regaining health or strength – It took a few days for my hearing to fully recover after the loud concert.
questions – inquiries or doubts about something – I have some questions about the potential long-term effects of loud music on hearing.
sound – vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person’s or animal’s ear – The sound of the crashing waves was soothing.
vibrations – rapid movements back and forth or oscillations – The vibrations from the bass at the concert could be felt throughout my body.
air pressure – the force exerted by the weight of the air above a given point – Changes in air pressure can sometimes cause discomfort in the ears.
cochlea – the spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear that contains the sensory organ responsible for hearing – The cochlea converts sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can interpret.
hair cells – cells in the inner ear that detect sound vibrations and convert them into electrical signals for the brain to process – Damage to the hair cells can lead to hearing loss.
volume – the loudness or intensity of a sound – I had to lower the volume on my headphones to protect my hearing.
duration – the length of time that something lasts – The concert lasted for over two hours, which could have contributed to my temporary threshold shift.
temporary threshold shift – a temporary decrease in hearing sensitivity after exposure to loud sounds – The ringing in my ears after the concert was a sign of a temporary threshold shift.
permanent hearing loss – a permanent reduction in hearing sensitivity – Prolonged exposure to loud music can lead to permanent hearing loss.
preventing hearing loss – taking measures to avoid or reduce the risk of damage to one’s hearing – Wearing earplugs at concerts is an effective way of preventing hearing loss.
earplugs – small devices that are inserted into the ear to protect against loud sounds – I always carry earplugs with me to concerts to protect my hearing.
favorite band – a musical group that someone particularly enjoys or supports – I can’t wait to see my favorite band perform live at the concert.
Using a slinky or a similar toy, try to create and observe the movement of sound waves. This will help you understand how sound travels through space. Remember, sound is created when displaced molecules vibrate through space, just like the movement of the slinky.
Download a decibel meter app on your phone. Measure the sound levels of different activities throughout your day, such as the noise in your classroom, the sound of your music, or the noise level at a local event. This will give you a better understanding of what sound levels are safe and which ones might be harmful to your hearing.
Keep a diary for a week noting any instances where you experience a temporary threshold shift – a temporary change in your hearing after exposure to loud noise. This will help you understand how common this phenomenon is and how your activities can impact your hearing.
Research different types of hearing protection, such as earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones. Write a short report on the different options available, how they work, and when they should be used. This will help you understand how to protect your hearing in different situations.
If possible, arrange a video call with an audiologist or a hearing specialist. Prepare a list of questions about hearing, the impact of loud music, and how to protect your ears. This will give you a chance to learn from an expert and gain a deeper understanding of the topic.
