Should You Wear Earplugs During Concerts? Here Are 5 Earplugs You Can Buy

Still on an Eras Tour high? Singapore had a memorable March, to say the least, with Grammy-winning superstar Taylor Swift performing six sold-out shows at the National Stadium. Thousands of fans flocked to the venue each night to see Taylor flawlessly perform almost 50 songs and they even sang along to the singer’s top hits.

Nothing beats hearing your favorite songs live, but did you know there are some who wear earplugs during concerts? It may sound surprising, but these accessories can help enhance your experience while protecting your hearing health. So, should you also join the trend and wear earplugs at concerts and live shows?

Real talk: Billions are at risk of hearing loss due to excessive exposure to loud music

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a new standard to address the threat of hearing loss. According to a departmental news the WHO released, “over one billion people aged 12 to 35 years risk losing hearing due to prolonged and excessive exposure to loud music and other recreational sounds.”

Wearing earplugs at noisy venues is one of the tips given by WHO to protect one’s hearing. You might be wondering, just how loud is loud music? Experts say that being exposed to sounds above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss.

During concerts, music is played at high volumes and can reach 120 decibels and higher. Depending on how far you are from the speakers, you can be exposed to louder music.

What happens when you don’t protect your ears?

WHO and other experts say that exposure to loud sounds can cause temporary hearing loss or tinnitus. This happens when you experience ringing in your ears, which will improve after a few days. However, prolonged exposure can result in permanent hearing damage and the risk can be higher for children since they have smaller ear canals.

Earplugs come in handy to help reduce the noise and protect your hearing.

How do you choose earplugs?

Doctors say it’s a must to check the noise reduction rating (NRR) of earplugs before purchasing them. The higher the NRR, the better it can protect your ears from loud noise. Whenever you’re going to a concert or a live performance, it’s best to have earplugs in your bag so you can pop them in when needed.

Ready to buy your first pair of earplugs? Here are some choices you can consider:

Alpine PartyPlug Concert Ear Plugs (S$24.61)

These reusable and easy-to-clean earplugs have special music filters so you can enjoy the concert from start to finish. There’s no need to worry about comfort as it’s lightweight and guarantees the perfect fit, so you can also dance and sway to the beat of your favorite songs.

Buy here

Loop Experience Noise Reduction Ear Plugs (S$42.95)

Aside from offering earplugs that help you sleep soundly at night, Loop also has earplugs that help reduce noise during live shows. Loop Experience has a noise reduction rating of 18 decibels and comes in four colors and four sizes. The best part? They preserve sound quality while protecting your precious hearing.

Buy here

LYSIAN High Fidelity Ear Plugs (S$26.91)

Suitable for musicians, festival attendees, and concertgoers, LYSIAN High Fidelity earplugs can reduce noise by 23 decibels while still allowing you to enjoy the live music. It comes with a waterproof aluminum carrying case, so you can store it easily and bring it anywhere.

Buy here

Eargasm Earplugs (S$74.83)

Eargasm promises to let you do more of what you love without the risk of tinnitus or hearing loss. This pair of earplugs guarantees up to 21 decibels of noise reduction which comes in handy when attending a concert or even a sporting event.

Buy here

SUPCEAT Ear Plugs (S$34.23)

Safe, reusable, and washable, SUPCEAT’s earplugs have an ergonomic design designed with a bionic jellyfish and can fit the ear canal at 360 degrees. If you’re bringing it to your next concert, it has a noise reduction rating of 25 to 33 decibels so you can enjoy the show without worrying about exposure to loud noise.

Buy here