The louder the sound, the less you can listen to it for a long time. And you have to be even more careful when you are tired. Noise sensitivity varies greatly from person to person. Some have ringing ears after a single night out, others listen to music on headphones for several hours a day, seemingly without feeling a thing. But not without risk.
From what sound level should you pay attention?
Since August 2017, the maximum volume allowed in discos and concerts has been lowered to 102 dB (instead of 105 dB), a difference which seems small, but which amounts to dividing the sound pressure by two.
“Despite this, the risk remains high. If you have to speak loudly or come closer to hear yourself (approximately 85 dB), it is because the sound environment is too noisy and you have to be careful. As with sun exposure, when it hurts, it means that we are already well beyond the risk threshold ”, warns Cédric Missistrano.
The right precautions to protect your ears
- To protect yourself during a concert, keep away from the speakers and take quiet breaks, ideally 15 minutes every hour.
- You can also wear hearing protection, foam, silicone, filter or even custom (see box). “For them to be effective, they must be pushed in sufficiently, placed before exposure to noise and never removed before being sheltered”, insists Cédric Missistrano.
- If your children attend a concert or a match, be vigilant! Put on a helmet or earplugs (from 3 years old).
- For musicians, during rehearsals, the ideal is to wear musical filter plugs.
Symptoms that should alert
Whistling or buzzing, “cottony” ears, hearing loss, noise hypersensitivity, pain … More than three quarters of 15-30 year olds have already experienced hearing problems. Hearing trauma or too long exposure to noise can also lead to fatigue, irritability, stress, problems with concentration … Fortunately, the discomfort is most often temporary. But, by dint of exposure, our “hearing capital” decreases and we run the risk of lasting disorders and premature hearing loss. If symptoms persist after a quiet night (8 to 10 hours), an ENT doctor should be consulted within 48 hours.
Our expert: Cédric Missistrano, hearing aid specialist in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés and in Paris
Which earplugs to choose?Depending on the model, they attenuate noise by 15 to 35 dB (25 dB on average).
Simple caps
Musical filter caps |
For further
- www.nosoreilles-onytient.org : an information and risk prevention site for young people.
- www.ecoute-ton-oreille.com : preventive actions to adopt with an MP3, in concert or in a club.
- Hearing Info Service: 0810 200 219 (price of a local call).
- A book: “It breaks the ears”, by Marie-Caroline Mabille, ed. du Rocher, € 16.90. A guide to preserving your hearing health, with testimonials and advice from doctors, musicians …
