Have you ever gone to a concert or music festival and experienced ringing or buzzing in your ears once you left the event? That ringing or buzzing in your ears is called Tinnitus and it is a symptom that something is wrong in the auditory system.
Table of Contents:
- What is Tinnitus and Can Loud Music Cause Tinnitus?
- What Causes Tinnitus?
- Where is the Connection to Tinnitus and Hearing Loss?
- Is Tinnitus a Serious Health Problem?
- Is There a Cure for Tinnitus?
- How to Prevent Tinnitus
- How to protect Your Ears
- Conclusion
What is Tinnitus and Can Loud Music Cause Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing or buzzing in one or both of your ears however, many describe it as a hissing, roaring, whizzing, or whooshing sound as well. It can be loud, soft, or any volume in between, and can range from a low-pitched roar to a high-pitched squeal. It can either occur constantly or come and go.
What Causes Tinnitus?
It’s important to know that tinnitus can be a symptom itself—it’s linked to many different medical conditions, and even some medications can trigger it. However, the leading cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud noise which damaged the inner ear. In fact, almost one-third of tinnitus cases is caused by loud noise music.
Most of us have probably experienced temporary tinnitus—ringing in the ears after hearing very loud music. Noise exposure can damage hair cells in the cochlea and also the nerve that carries information to the brain which can lead to Tinnitus. Healthy Hearing explains that sometimes the sounds will appear after noise exposure when you’re young, go away, and return later in life as you age and a hidden vulnerability appears.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
About 90 percent of people with tinnitus also have hearing loss, though many people may not even realize they have both conditions. Tinnitus usually follows the pattern of your loss. If you have trouble hearing high frequencies, your tinnitus is often a high-pitched ringing or hissing. When your loss is in only one ear, you’ll usually only have tinnitus in that ear and it will go away if you get a cochlear implant in that ear.
Is Tinnitus A Serious Health Problem?
Most of the time, tinnitus isn’t a sign of a serious health problem. However, if it is very loud or doesn’t go away, it can cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, and problems with memory and concentration which can be a real source of mental and emotional anguish.
Is There A Cure For Tinnitus?
In most cases, there is no known cure. Treatments such as tinnitus sound therapy or tinnitus retraining therapy and related alternative relief strategies such as hearing aids can help.
How To Prevent Tinnitus
In order to protect yourself and prevent Tinnitus, you have to plan ahead – especially if you know you will be in a loud environment. Wherever you go, carry ear plugs with you. They are your ear’s best friend. When in noisy environments, stay away from speakers and sit further away from the stage. Taking “noise breaks” every 15-20 minutes and going to a quiet area to rest your ears can be extremely helpful in protecting your inner ear cells from becoming damaged.
When listening to music, your device’s maximum volume should be no higher than 6 decibels (dB). As mentioned above, taking “noise breaks” and turning off your music every 15 minutes is a good way to give your ears time to recover.
How To Protect Ears
One way to protect your ears is to make sure your ears are healthy. A healthy ear is more likely to withstand damage from loud noise. This includes eating a healthy diet and making sure you are getting plenty of magnesium and vitamins A, E, and C. These vitamins and nutrients can help to protect the tiny hair cells in your cochlea. Learning to relax and letting your body heal are equally as important. The 2 leading factors that make tinnitus worse are stress and fatigue. Take care of your body and give your ears some time to rest and get better.
Every Raver Should Know The Signs, Symptoms, and Causes of Tinnitus
Loud noise is very harmful and can do some serious damage to your ears. Make sure you plan for your next loud noise exposure. If you are attending a rave, you should bring earplugs. If you are going to a concert, consider sitting further away. Lifestyle changes and smart choices about noise exposure can go a long way to prevent hearing loss.
Music earplugs are designed to provide a crisp clear sound experience at a lower volume which is a great way to protect your hearing when at a rave or concert. Head to our blog to learn more about Music Earplugs & How You Put Them On or Why People Wearing Music Earplugs At Raves – 6 Things That Happen To Your Ears When They Are Not Protected at a Rave.
Juliet Norelli has been a part of the rave community for 10 years. She shares her knowledge through writing to give helpful tips and advice to all ravers.
