Tinnitus caused by loud music

Hearing sounds like buzzing, beeping, ringing, or roaring in your ears is a common sign of a fun night of music. This is often the first time people experience tinnitus, as loud music can temporarily cause this condition.

Should you be worried?

Generally, there is no need to worry, as the ringing in your ears will usually subside on its own after a few hours. However, if you experience prolonged ear pain after a concert, it's important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

The hair cells in the inner ear get irritated by continuous exposure to loud noises. The sound waves reach the inner ear without getting absorbed over time, and this results in damage to the hair cells. The symptoms show up just before bedtime, when the person is in a quiet environment. In this case, they may hear noises and beeps in their ears. It takes a while for things to calm down after an incident like this, depending on how long and loud the noise was.

Hearing loss can be caused by exposure to excessively loud noise over a prolonged period of time. If the beeping is still pronounced after 24-48 hours, it is recommended that you see a doctor. The longer the beeping persists, the greater the chance that it will become a long-term condition. Short-term hearing loss is also not unheard of after attending a concert with loud noises. This is because the auditory system downregulates its own sound perception as a form of self-defense. When overloaded, the human ear responds in an attempt to protect itself.

In order to avoid tinnitus caused by exposure to loud music in the future, there are two steps you can take. Firstly, minimise your direct exposure to noise during the event. Secondly, use hearing protection to safeguard your ears.

Minimizing Tinnitus during the event: There are various simple methods to minimise the ringing in your ear during an event. Avoid standing close to speakers and ensure that you stay hydrated. Dehydration can affect the functioning of the inner ear.

Protecting your ears with hearing protection: You can prevent ringing in the ear and discomfort after concerts by using hearing protection. These earplugs offer protection against exposure to loud sounds for a prolonged period of time, and they're so small they're barely noticeable. You can wear them discreetly without anyone knowing.