A Wake-Up Call for Hearing Health
Silence is Golden, But My Ears Didn't Get the Memo
The Unexpected Wake-Up Call
This summer, I learned about "Tinnitus" from a close friend. He'd been living with it for over a few years, a result of attending loud concerts without hearing protection. Not wanting to share his fate, I asked him to get me a pair of earplugs he trusted for our upcoming show.
Despite my precautions, I woke up the morning after the concert with a faint ringing in my ear, and immediate concern set in. So much for thinking I'd dodged that bullet.
What is Tinnitus?
According to Goggle's AI overview, Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source. It manifests as ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the ears, affecting one or both. The sounds can vary in pitch, come and go, or remain constant.
Tinnitus is surprisingly common. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that approximately 10 percent of the U.S. adult population — over 25 million Americans — experience some form of tinnitus. Globally, it's estimated to affect 10-25% of adults.
Causes include:
Damage to inner ear auditory cells
Aging
Exposure to loud noises
Various health conditions (allergies, blood pressure issues, diabetes, thyroid problems)
Head or neck injuries
Certain medications
My Concert Experience and the Aftermath
I was incredibly excited about the show and had a great time, believing I was protecting my hearing while enjoying the music.
Despite using earplugs, my ears sustained some damage. This shows the extreme volume levels at modern venues:
Rock concerts often exceed 100 decibels (dB)
Safe exposure time at 100 dB is only 15 minutes
Some concerts peak at 110 dB or higher
It's not just concerts:
City traffic noise averages 80 dB
Subway platforms can reach 100 dB
Some movie theaters play sound at 90 dB
I visited an audiologist for a complete hearing test. The good news: my hearing was still "perfect". A 2010 study in the Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology found that about 8% of people with tinnitus had normal hearing. I'm glad to be among this group. While I'm glad I didn't lose any hearing, I was still concerned about the persistent ringing.
Living with Tinnitus
While I can go days almost forgetting about it, there are times when the sound is noticeable. It's especially prominent when I'm tired, worsening on busy days.
Trying to block out tinnitus by covering your ears only amplifies it – a stark contrast to how we typically react to loud noises.
The first week after the concert was particularly challenging. At the beach, I couldn't hear the waves over the ringing. Thankfully, it's improved since then.
Personal Reflection
Before this experience, I never thought much about my hearing. Now, every loud noise makes me wince, not just from discomfort but from knowing what it could cost me. This awareness has changed how I navigate my daily life, especially in a city as vibrant and noisy as New York.
I've started using a decibel meter app on my phone, and I'm constantly amazed at how many everyday experiences push over 100 dB. The Astor Place subway stop, which was a regular part of my commute, often exceeds this level when trains screech to a halt. Construction sites with jackhammers, seemingly on every other block, easily surpass 100 dB. Even some restaurants I frequent hit these dangerous levels during peak hours.
This constant exposure to high decibel levels in our daily lives makes me realize how crucial it is to be proactive about hearing protection. It's not just about concerts anymore; it's about preserving our hearing in the face of our increasingly loud urban environments.
Good News & Looking Forward
After this whole ordeal, I've become pretty invested in keeping my ears happy and healthy and also make sure to making all my friends and family are getting plugs. It's become a bit of a mission for me. I invested in custom-fitted earplugs ($200) providing up to 40 dB noise reduction – a worthwhile expense compared to lifelong tinnitus.
I was really excited to see Apple launch new AirPods Pro 2 at their September 2024 event with a strong focus on hearing health. According to Apple's website, these AirPods offer some impressive features:
The world's first software-enabled Hearing Aid feature.
At-home hearing tests to assess your current hearing status.
Hearing Protection that translates sound signatures to lower levels in environments as loud as 110 dBA.
Machine learning on the H2 chip actively reduces louder, more intermittent noise at 48,000 times per second.
I love how technology can solve such problems and I'm excited for all the upgrades that are in store the next few years. As for now, I'm still going to rely on my ear plugs as they're not battery powered :) It would be a bummer to have your AirPods run out of charge halfway through a show, so there's definitely a planning aspect to consider.
Products like this from well-known brands will really help spread awareness about hearing health.
I feel fortunate to have sustained minimal damage, but I can't imagine the experience of countless concertgoers exposed to 100+ dB music for hours. It's a lifelong consequence for many.
As our world gets louder, we should be proactive about protecting our ears. It's a lesson I wish I'd learned earlier. Take care of your hearing. And if we’re ever at a concert together and you hear me screaming much louder than I should be when talking to you, it’s because I have my ear plugs in.