It is no secret that prolonged exposure to loud sound is highly damaging to our hearing. Listening to loud music is one of the common factors leading to degraded hearing ability and tinnitus, and is deeply unhealthy.
At the same time, such level of noise negatively impacts the quality of sound perception, which degrades the musical side of the musical performance.
In what seems to be the echoes of the so-called “loudness war”, bands still stick to the idea that “the louder you blast it - the better”. But it’s not true. There are many other ways to energize the crowd without causing them sound damage, and I’d love to see more of those, instead of them trying to be the loudest ever.
It’s gotten to the point that I just keep ear plugs on me at all times. Concerts, movie theaters, loud family gatherings, whatever. If shit’s too crazy I pop them in. I only wish I started this before suffering permanent hearing loss. I can no longer experience silence.
Even after hearing loss …… it took my family all too long to figure out why my grandmother couldn’t hear despite hearing aids. It turns out a combination of cheap hearing aids and loud relatives were also painfully loud for her so she would turn them off
I feel you. Take care of your hearing now, at least!