As technological advancements are made and increasingly powerful sound systems hit the market, the decibel volume in bars and nightclubs swells louder and louder. Most venues now have the capacity to create sound so voluminous that it causes a vibrating sensation in patron’s chest cavities. Often accompanied by a deep bass hit, it sure as hell adds to the atmosphere, but what does it do to your ears?
Our ears are quite sensitive. While used to dealing with the 60-70 decibels (dB) of normal speech, they are not tailored to withstand prolonged exposure to anything over 85dB. With the noise of a hairdryer at 90dB, and the potential for eardrums to burst at 150dB it’s no surprise that some patrons don’t enjoy the vibration-inducing sound booms that can clock up to 140dB.
The measurement of decibels is a quite a challenge. It’s mainly based on your position in relation to the noise. The average levels in nightclubs are between 90 and 110 decibels depending on how enclosed the rooms are. Nightclubs that hit 140dB tend to have enclosed rooms. Without doubt the safest place to enjoy your favourite sounds are at live concerts as the sound is allowed the space to dissipate.
Workplace Health and Safety regulations dictate that all employees must have access to ear protection if they’ll be exposed to more than 85 decibels for more than eight hours. For nightclub staff, earplugs are more than important- they are essential. Enduring prolonged exposed to high decibel levels can cause problems inclusive of Tinnitus, permanent damage and Noise-induced hearing loss. These sound like things that will never happen to you, but if you’ve been going out to nightclubs at least once a week for six months then they probably already have.
The reason for this is that symptoms of Noise-induced hearing loss, (NIHL), are so gradual in onset that sufferers are often oblivious to their ailment. The first signs however, are hard to miss. Remember those nights that were so good that your ears were still buzzing the next day? That ringing sound is called Tinnitus and is one of the symptoms of NIHL. Now don’t freak out – there are plenty of ways to protect your ears from great nights out (no matter how loud)!
One of these ways is the iPhone app ‘Decibel Meter’. At just $1.99 it approximates the decibels in the room and allows you the option to hightail your ears right out of there. Unfortunately there is no controller built in to adjust the volume, so if it’s too loud then the best option is to leave. (Which we all know isn’t really an option.) Hands down the best way to protect your ears is by using earplugs. Pretty obvious, right?
Most nightclubs store single use foam earplugs behind the bar for staff and patrons. These are great at blocking out sound but not so great at preserving sound quality. Rather than working as volume depressants they simply block out the sounds closest to you. With no other options at hand however, they are still better than nothing.
Another variety is the moldable wax or silicone earplugs. Swimmers prefer these as they provide an airtight seal. For that reason they are not recommended for nightclubs or music events, as they will block out too much. What you really need are the flanged earplugs. These are the type used by professional DJ’s, bands and people who are serious about keeping their hearing beyond the age of thirty.
Flange earplugs reduce the sound received by up to 20 decibels without compromising sound quality. While foam plugs are cheap, with most being just a few dollars, the Flange tends to be more expensive. For custom made varieties you will be looking at upwards of $50 but you can get a generic set for around $13 from Amazon.
Our ability to hear is not something to be toyed with, but neither is our right to listen to loud music. There is no need to stop bouncing all night to the vibrations in your lungs but there is a need to stop listening to the buzzing of Tinnitus against your pillow. Turning down the music isn’t an option, that’s for damn sure, but something has to give. Earplugs are small, disposable and mostly pretty inexpensive. Sure, rocking out at your favourite club every Saturday night is part of your schedule, but the importance of the humble earplug is essential not only this week but for the rest of your life.
Jess Barlow
1 Comment
Jaime Noorda
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is magnificent, let alone the content!. Thanks For Your article about The importance of earplugs | .
09 Jun 2020 02:06 pm
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