Belfast festival-goers urged to protect their hearing as summer live music season continues
With Belfast's summer events calendar in full swing and thousands of people expected to attend concerts and live music events across the city this weekend, it's set to be another busy few days for music lovers.
Ahead of the weekend, hearing protection specialists at Alpine are reminding concert-goers that ringing ears or muffled hearing after a performance shouldn't be dismissed as normal, warning that these can be early signs of hearing damage caused by prolonged exposure to loud music.
When does noise become damaging?
Hearing damage isn't only caused by extremely loud noises. It's the combination of sound level and the amount of time you're exposed to it that determines the risk, meaning even sounds that don't seem painfully loud can become harmful over prolonged periods.
Arthur van Keeken, Chief Executive Officer of Alpine Hearing Protection, says: "We generally consider 85 decibels (dB) the point where hearing damage can begin with prolonged exposure. At that level, which is roughly the equivalent to heavy city traffic or a noisy restaurant, regular exposure for over 8 hours or more can start to cause harm.
The invisible danger to our hearing quickly increases because every increase of around 3 dB effectively doubles the sound energy reaching the ear, which means the 'safe' listening time drops dramatically.
85 dB → around 8 hours until harm is caused.
88 dB → around 4 hours
91 dB → around 2 hours
94 dB → around 1 hour
100 dB → as little as 15 minutes
110–120 dB → potential damage can occur in just a few minutes, or even sooner near speakers.
Sound levels can sit between 100 to 110 dB at concerts, especially during headline sets, which means many people are exposed to exceeding safe exposure levels before they even realise it.”
What is the ‘invisible damage’?
Unlike a sprained ankle or sunburn, hearing damage often develops without obvious warning. Many people dismiss ringing ears or muffled hearing after a concert as a normal part of the experience, but these can be early signs that the ears have already been exposed to harmful noise.
Arthur says: “If your ears are ringing, buzzing, or sounds feel muffled after a concert, it’s not normal, it can be a sign of invisible hearing damage that has already taken place. Temporary symptoms often signal stress to the delicate hair cells in the inner ear, and once these are damaged, they don’t regenerate. Even if your hearing seems to ‘return to normal’, the cumulative impact can lead to permanent loss over time.”
How can I prevent damaging my ears?
There are four simple ways to reduce the risk of hearing damage while still enjoying live music this summer.
Keep your distance from speakers
Where you stand can make a significant difference to the amount of sound reaching your ears. Areas directly in front of speaker stacks or close to the stage are typically the loudest. Moving just a few metres further away can noticeably reduce your exposure without taking away from the experience.
Give your ears time to recover
If you're attending multiple concerts or festivals over the summer, try to build in quieter days between events. Your ears need time to recover after prolonged exposure to loud noise, much like muscles after exercise. Avoid turning up the volume on headphones during the journey home, as this only adds to the strain.
Pay attention to warning signs
Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus), muffled hearing, difficulty following conversations in noisy environments, or needing people to repeat themselves can all be early signs that your hearing has been affected. While these symptoms may fade, repeated exposure increases the risk of permanent damage over time.
Wear hearing protection designed for music
Standard foam earplugs, cotton wool or tissue paper can reduce sound quality and may not provide consistent protection. Music-specific earplugs are designed to lower the volume evenly across different frequencies, allowing listeners to enjoy clear sound while reducing harmful noise levels.
Arthur van Keeken, Chief Executive Officer of Alpine Hearing Protection, adds: "Fans are investing more than ever in seeing their favourite artists live, but many don't think about the long-term impact loud music can have on their hearing. Earplugs designed specifically for live music, such as Alpine Tune Earplugs, reduce the volume while preserving sound quality, so people can enjoy the performance without unnecessarily putting their hearing at risk."