"I only like music
when it's loud!"
HERB
TOPICS
SAFER HEARING
SAFER HEARNING
Loud music plays a big role in nightlife, of course. But your ears are also on all day, whether in everyday life on the street or in the evening in the club. Your hearing is a valuable asset and should last a lifetime!
Exposure of the hearing to sounds and noise - and to music!
How loud or quiet something is perceived depends on
⫸ S ound pressure level: the pain threshold here is usually located at 130 dB (decibels).
⫸ Frequency (pitch): Very high-pitched sounds are usually perceived as more unpleasant.
⫸ Impulsiveness, i.e. how quickly loud and quiet sounds alternate. Sounds with a constant or even volume are perceived as less stressful than sounds with strong level changes (e.g. hammering or banging noises).
...but crucially also by set and setting. The extent to which one perceives sounds as noise is
⫸ very dependent on what is happening in which state: am I in need of sleep or do I have to work, do I actually want to have a relaxed conversation or am I ready for full volume, do I feel good overall or not?
⫸ very individual: how sensitive am I to learning levels or certain frequencies, do I like the style of music, etc.?
YOUR INDIVIDUAL PERCEPTION OFTEN SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THE ACTUAL EXPOSURE. CONSTANT EXPOSURE, E.G. TO CONSTANT ROAD NOISE OR A NOISY ENVIRONMENT, FLOODS YOUR HEARING WITH STIMULI AND LEADS TO HEARING DAMAGE IN THE LONG TERM. WHETHER DAMAGE OCCURS ALSO DEPENDS ON HOW LONG YOUR HEARING IS EXPOSED TO THE NOISE. IN THE ACTUAL SITUATION, YOU DON'T NOTICE IT AT FIRST, BUT YOUR HEARING HAS AN ELEPHANTINE MEMORY AND REMEMBERS ALL THE NOISES THAT DAMAGE YOUR HEARING
The auditory sensory cells are located in the inner ear and transform sound waves into nerve impulses, which are then "translated" into music, for example. The cells have very small fine hairs that function like a microphone. If the hearing is permanently stressed, the number of these hairs decreases and the hearing deteriorates. In the worst case, you then need a hearing aid. For people with (already) limited hearing, of course, as for everyone else, more can be damaged and protection is just as important.
THE OTHER SIDE: Music Is Not Noise
LIVE DMA, the european network of clubs, live venues and festivals, fights for the right to listen to loud music in public spaces. Action is needed due to WHO activities to regulate noise limitations for any source regardless wether it is a construction site or a concert.
Any future environmental noise regulation must safeguard the cultural rights to live music and artistic freedom. This paper provides guidance for the drafting of a good urban policy in relation to live music.
The recommendations come from a working group comprising live music experts from across Europe who worked together in Antwerp and Madrid to lay out the statement 'Music is Not Noise' and qualify this with facts to illustrate the argument and why it is important
Click Image to download whitepaper!
Sometimes, after listening to loud music, you have a beeping or hissing in your ears or rather muffled hearing - after a longer rest period, your hearing usually recovers from the hearing loss. However, it is a warning signal of the body that you should definitely take seriously as too much and thus make it an exception!
If dizziness, hearing loss and a feeling of pressure are added to this, it may be a case of hearing loss, which should be examined by a doctor (ENT). This is because there is a risk of permanent hearing loss associated with it. In case of persistent whistling and in case of hearing loss associated with dizziness and a feeling of pressure or lasting longer than a whole day, you should definitely seek medical advice. Rest, sleep and avoidance of stress (without sound!) are now the order of the day!
In any case, recovery requires sufficient sleep and rest without sound!
Substance use and hearing
⫸ The consumption of a number of substances leads to increased blood pressure. This can lead to poorer blood flow in the ear and thus increase the risk of damage. In addition to uppers with a stimulant effect, this also applies to alcohol and ketamine, for example.
⫸ Laughing gas is particularly tricky: Here, there is an increase in pressure in the inner ear, which can result in middle ear infections.
⫸ In addition to the direct physical effects, the consumption of substances also alters our consciousness and thus our perception of volume.
⫸ With dampening substances such as alcohol and benzos, we often perceive loud music as less unpleasant - and underestimate the strain on our hearing. Psychedelics such as cannabis, mushrooms, LSD and the like lead to acoustic perceptual changes - this can also lead us to underestimate loudness.
⫸ Dissociatives such as ketamine and PCP alter the perception of frequency ranges-so perhaps high or low frequencies might be perceived as pleasant, when in fact it is too loud.
⫸ Stimulant substances (such as cocaine, amphetamine, and MDMA) put our entire body, including our hearing, on alert - i.e., in continuous stress mode. This can amplify the effects of loud music.
⫸ The list of special risks associated with substance use could be continued indefinitely, therefore: substance use influences the perception of noise and increases the risk of hearing damage, so think more about hearing protection!
Safer Hearing Tips
⫸ Take noise breaks even when going out! This helps to sensitize your hearing to the noise level again. Consider how much strain you want to put on your hearing.
⫸ Wear hearing protection as often as possible when exposed to noise!
⫸ Use good earplugs!
According to a study by Alpine Hearing Protection, only about half of all concertgoers use hearing protection. The fact is, however, that our ears can suffer permanent damage from just one concert. For this reason, numerous manufacturers have developed hearing protection plugs with a filter system specifically for music enjoyment and concerts. These ensure a full sound experience and are almost invisible!
Of course, hearing protection that is precisely tailored to your inner ear is particularly good. If you are willing to invest a little money at the beginning, you can have a hearing aid acoustician make a special custom fit for your own ear. If you take good care of this, you will even get away cheaper in the long run than with disposable foam rubber earplugs. Nevertheless, commercially available products often offer good protection.
⫸ Here you can find an independent test page with numerous concert earplugs in comparison.
⫸ In Berlin, you can get more detailed and professional advice at BERLINEARGUARD.
Note: Substance use influences the perception of noise and thus increases the risk of hearing damage!
Keep your distance from the speakers or the sound source! Directly in front of a speaker the load is very high and the sound is not balanced anyway, so better look for good sound instead of full volume. Also keep your distance from the walls, the noise level can be particularly high here as well.
Reduce noise exposure in everyday life: E.g., do not always listen to music loudly or to fall asleep, avoid continuous sound reinforcement and noise peaks.
Buy good headphones! Bad ones provide poor sound and tempt you to listen much too loud permanently). Noise reduction is useful because it reduces external noise. But: The louder you listen, the shorter - permanently loud Mukke on the ears leads to most hearing damage!
⫸ Have a hearing test with an ENT doctor (especially if symptoms such as tinnitus, dizziness or pressure in the ear occur)! There are now also free apps and online hearing tests, but these should not replace a visit to the professionals.
⫸ Plenty of sleep and rest (keeping noise down as much as possible) and little stress!
⫸ Chew a lot and regularly and sing (Really! This strengthens the middle ear muscle!).
⫸ Eat healthily and drink water and nutrients even while celebrating - give preference to non-alcoholic beverages!
ONE LAST TIP:
You can find explanatory pages, films and even more tips at hear-it.org
TOPICS
SAFER HEARING
"I only like music
when it's loud!"
HERB
SAFER HEARNING
Loud music plays a big role in nightlife, of course. But your ears are also on all day, whether in everyday life on the street or in the evening in the club. Your hearing is a valuable asset and should last a lifetime!
⫸ Here you can find an independent test page with numerous concert earplugs in comparison.
⫸ In Berlin, you can get more detailed and professional advice at BERLINEARGUARD.
Exposure of the hearing to sounds and noise - and to music!
How loud or quiet something is perceived depends on
⫸ S ound pressure level: the pain threshold here is usually located at 130 dB (decibels).
⫸ Frequency (pitch): Very high-pitched sounds are usually perceived as more unpleasant.
⫸ Impulsiveness, i.e. how quickly loud and quiet sounds alternate. Sounds with a constant or even volume are perceived as less stressful than sounds with strong level changes (e.g. hammering or banging noises).
...but crucially also by set and setting. The extent to which one perceives sounds as noise is
⫸ very dependent on what is happening in which state: am I in need of sleep or do I have to work, do I actually want to have a relaxed conversation or am I ready for full volume, do I feel good overall or not?
⫸ very individual: how sensitive am I to learning levels or certain frequencies, do I like the style of music, etc.?
YOUR INDIVIDUAL PERCEPTION OFTEN SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THE ACTUAL EXPOSURE. CONSTANT EXPOSURE, E.G. TO CONSTANT ROAD NOISE OR A NOISY ENVIRONMENT, FLOODS YOUR HEARING WITH STIMULI AND LEADS TO HEARING DAMAGE IN THE LONG TERM. WHETHER DAMAGE OCCURS ALSO DEPENDS ON HOW LONG YOUR HEARING IS EXPOSED TO THE NOISE. IN THE ACTUAL SITUATION, YOU DON'T NOTICE IT AT FIRST, BUT YOUR HEARING HAS AN ELEPHANTINE MEMORY AND REMEMBERS ALL THE NOISES THAT DAMAGE YOUR HEARING
The auditory sensory cells are located in the inner ear and transform sound waves into nerve impulses, which are then "translated" into music, for example. The cells have very small fine hairs that function like a microphone. If the hearing is permanently stressed, the number of these hairs decreases and the hearing deteriorates. In the worst case, you then need a hearing aid. For people with (already) limited hearing, of course, as for everyone else, more can be damaged and protection is just as important.
Sometimes, after listening to loud music, you have a beeping or hissing in your ears or rather muffled hearing - after a longer rest period, your hearing usually recovers from the hearing loss. However, it is a warning signal of the body that you should definitely take seriously as too much and thus make it an exception!
In any case, recovery requires sufficient sleep and rest without sound!
Substance use and hearing
⫸ The consumption of a number of substances leads to increased blood pressure. This can lead to poorer blood flow in the ear and thus increase the risk of damage. In addition to uppers with a stimulant effect, this also applies to alcohol and ketamine, for example.
⫸ Laughing gas is particularly tricky: Here, there is an increase in pressure in the inner ear, which can result in middle ear infections.
⫸ In addition to the direct physical effects, the consumption of substances also alters our consciousness and thus our perception of volume.
⫸ With dampening substances such as alcohol and benzos, we often perceive loud music as less unpleasant - and underestimate the strain on our hearing. Psychedelics such as cannabis, mushrooms, LSD and the like lead to acoustic perceptual changes - this can also lead us to underestimate loudness.
⫸ Dissociatives such as ketamine and PCP alter the perception of frequency ranges-so perhaps high or low frequencies might be perceived as pleasant, when in fact it is too loud.
⫸ Stimulant substances (such as cocaine, amphetamine, and MDMA) put our entire body, including our hearing, on alert - i.e., in continuous stress mode. This can amplify the effects of loud music.
⫸ The list of special risks associated with substance use could be continued indefinitely, therefore: substance use influences the perception of noise and increases the risk of hearing damage, so think more about hearing protection!
Safer Hearing Tips
⫸ Take noise breaks even when going out! This helps to sensitize your hearing to the noise level again. Consider how much strain you want to put on your hearing.
⫸ Wear hearing protection as often as possible when exposed to noise!
⫸ Use good earplugs!
According to a study by Alpine Hearing Protection, only about half of all concertgoers use hearing protection. The fact is, however, that our ears can suffer permanent damage from just one concert. For this reason, numerous manufacturers have developed hearing protection plugs with a filter system specifically for music enjoyment and concerts. These ensure a full sound experience and are almost invisible!
Note: Substance use influences the perception of noise and thus increases the risk of hearing damage!
Keep your distance from the speakers or the sound source! Directly in front of a speaker the load is very high and the sound is not balanced anyway, so better look for good sound instead of full volume. Also keep your distance from the walls, the noise level can be particularly high here as well.
Reduce noise exposure in everyday life: E.g., do not always listen to music loudly or to fall asleep, avoid continuous sound reinforcement and noise peaks.
Buy good headphones! Bad ones provide poor sound and tempt you to listen much too loud permanently). Noise reduction is useful because it reduces external noise. But: The louder you listen, the shorter - permanently loud Mukke on the ears leads to most hearing damage!
⫸ Have a hearing test with an ENT doctor (especially if symptoms such as tinnitus, dizziness or pressure in the ear occur)! There are now also free apps and online hearing tests, but these should not replace a visit to the professionals.
⫸ Plenty of sleep and rest (keeping noise down as much as possible) and little stress!
⫸ Chew a lot and regularly and sing (Really! This strengthens the middle ear muscle!).
⫸ Eat healthily and drink water and nutrients even while celebrating - give preference to non-alcoholic beverages!
ONE LAST TIP:
You can find explanatory pages, films and even more tips at hear-it.org
IMPRINT / DISCLAIMER / FACEBOOK
PHOTOS BY Bobby Rodriguezz @bobrodriguez / Bogdan Glisik @bglisik / Brooke Cagle @brookecagle / Clarisse Meyer @clarissemeyer / Ramy Kabalan @ramykabalan / Christopher Campbell @chrisjoelcampbell / Alexander Antropov
all photos are license-free, taken from pixabay.com and wikimedia.commons
ILLUS, LOGO BY DARIUS GONDOR www.formplan.design
IMPRINT / DISCLAIMER / FACEBOOK
PHOTOS BY Bobby Rodriguezz @bobrodriguez / Bogdan Glisik @bglisik / Brooke Cagle @brookecagle / Clarisse Meyer @clarissemeyer / Ramy Kabalan @ramykabalan / Christopher Campbell @chrisjoelcampbell / Alexander Antropov
all photos are license-free, taken from pixabay.com and wikimedia.commons
ILLUS, LOGO BY DARIUS GONDOR www.formplan.design