Listen Up! From the NHCA Experts… Do We Owe Rock Concerts an Apology?

November 23, 2024|Hearing/Noise, Industrial Hygiene in the Workplace

By: Frank Wartinger, Audiologist and NHCA Expert

Picture this: You just brought home a tub of your favorite ice cream and noticed the suggested serving size listed as “one teaspoon.” The only reasonable response is a brisk eye roll, followed by serving yourself a normal-sized bowl of ice cream.

For decades, the term “rock concert” has been placed on noise thermometer graphics at or around the 120dB mark with safe exposure times listed at ~7 minutes (per OSHA) or ~7 seconds (per NIOSH) [See chart, “Safe Listening Time Limits].

So we need to ask: Who eats just one teaspoon of ice cream, and who attends a concert for just seven seconds?

The research has long shown that typical sound levels at large concerts range from 95 to 105dBA, with variability based on seating, music genre and venue type. Though some concerts may truly rock the needle over this range, the average is significantly lower than the exaggerated 120dB.

Research has shown typical sound levels at large concerts range from 95 to 105dBA, with variability based on seating, music genre and venue type. © Alfredo – stock.adobe.com

Of course, concerts do pose hearing risks, and incidents of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) have been clinically observed after a single event. The public generally supports efforts to post warnings and reduce the levels, and changes are underway to make all concerts safe public events.

Until then, consumers should be armed with accurate guidance and actionable methods to ensure their own safety: bring earplugs, move away from the speakers and take breaks if you notice signs of overexposure. Statements that inflate the risk may lead to public desensitization and undermine genuine warnings in the future.

Live music events are an awesome and powerful experience which carry a potential risk to your hearing. That’s the truth, and the truth is sufficiently powerful and actionable. A properly informed consumer is the line of defense when the product is inherently dangerous in large quantities (ice cream) or high intensities (concerts). IHW