Festival season is in full swing again: packed fields, timeless classics, and the hardest kicks. But as the music gets louder, so does the risk of hearing damage. And yet, good hearing protection has never been more accessible.
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What is hearing damage?
Hearing damage occurs when the hair cells in your inner ear become overloaded by loud noise. These cells transmit sound signals to your brain but cannot regenerate. Once damaged, the effect is permanent. The result? Ringing in your ears (tinnitus), muffled hearing, or a constant tone – symptoms that often never go away.
And it’s more common than you might think: over 2 million people in the Netherlands suffer from tinnitus, and more than 20% of young people experience a permanent ringing in their ears. According to the World Health Organization, the safe limit for sound is 85 decibels (dB). Frequent or prolonged exposure beyond that puts you at risk – even if you don’t notice it at the time.
Pemanent damage in just 2 minutes
At festivals, sound levels often exceed 100 dB easily. At major stages, peaks can reach 110 or even 120 dB. Without protection, you can suffer hearing damage at 100 dB after just 15 minutes. At 110 dB, the risk kicks in within only 2 minutes. Yet many festival-goers stand in front of the speakers for hours, without earplugs.
Enjoy the music safely
Fortunately, protecting your ears doesn’t have to ruin your festival experience. Modern hearing protection is far from the old foam-in-your-ear days. Brands like Pluggerz offer protection specifically designed for music events: with filters that reduce harmful volume while keeping sound clear – and conversations with friends possible.
Options range from accessible, ready-to-wear models for occasional use to custom-made solutions for those regularly exposed to loud environments. Most importantly: they make ear protection approachable, comfortable, and stylish. That makes it easier to keep enjoying music, without putting your hearing at risk.
