# You don't \*have\* to play it that loud, but if you do, you \*will\* lose your hearing. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 6, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650 "2004-08-06T18:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bangiadore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@Bangiadore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bangiadore)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/21 "2004-08-06T23:06:59Z")
I’m 50, and my hearing in social situations is dismal. Like **lieu** , I have a lot of difficulty separating conversation from ambient noise at restaurants and parties. And communicating in clubs? Not possible. I blame The Velvet Underground, George Clinton, disco, The Ramones, Grace Jones, The Plastics, La Peste, Busted Statues, and a whole lotta other repeat offenders from my misspent yout’. And myself, of course. Children of today, risk not your ears for a moment’s pleasure, for kept well, they’ll be your friends in old age. But to the darn kids who alienate and irritate by driving around hip-hopping the mortar out of the chimneys in the neighborhood – that’s just rude. I’m _sure_ you’re just claiming yourselves some space in a hostile world, but, hey, your antagonism doesn’t do much to make it a better place. It will, however, go a long ways toward, eventually, making you deaf. Which means that by 2030, no car system will carry less than 50,000 watts of sound. And there won’t be a chimney left on any house, anywhere. And that’ll be your lil’ contribution to society. Congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/22 "2004-08-06T23:39:43Z")
You gotta wonder, too, why so many restaurants seem to keep the music up so loud that you practically have to yell to talk to anyone. And I mean, it makes sense for something like a rock concert to be loud. But why does it have to be _so loud_ that it actually makes you physically uncomfortable?? As long as everyone can hear the music decently, why do they still raise the volume to damagine levels? I remember a few years ago I had to leave a Crystal Method concert because the bass was so deep I thought the vibrations were going to make me sick to my stomach. Music should be an enjoyment, not an assault. ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/23 "2004-08-06T23:40:42Z")
It’s all true, kids. I’m 35 and have no small amount of hearing trouble, which can be directly attributed to years of abuse of punk and heavy metal; headphones, car stereos, mosh pits, and guns. I’ve seen a lot of radio stations give away a lot of useless crap at a lot of concerts, but I never saw anyone giving away earplugs up front. Too bad. Or, as the voice in my head would say, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/24 "2004-08-08T05:58:15Z")
I guess I’m in for some trouble in the years to come… Then again, all you hear these days is bullshit anyway, so maybe I won’t be missing out? ---
**Author:** ![P\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a587f6/32.png) [@P\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P_T)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/25 "2004-08-08T07:11:41Z")
I’m one of the original members of the Walkman club, that is, I’m 34. I really hope you younger people that haven’t already fucked your hearing up are paying attention to all of this. There are quite a few of us in this age group that have seriously fucked up the rest of our lives because we just had to hear that Kiss or Def Leppard song a little bit louder. Even had a T-Shirt I got at a Kiss concert, “If it’s too loud, you’re too old.” Of course that made me turn it up a couple more notches. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/26 "2004-08-08T07:43:14Z")
I guess I’m lucky. I listen to loud music in my car every day. I have listened to very loud music on walkmans since they came out. I have been to many, many loud concerts. And my hearing is still perfect. Knock on wood. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/27 "2004-08-08T08:08:05Z")
Really, I don’t think people really appreciate just how bad it is to lose your hearing. I remember some years ago watching a special on Bob Hope, who was well known to have hearing problems in his later life. There was a clip shown of rehearsals for one of his last Christmas specials. There he stood, in the middle of the floor, looking around in confusion and totally out of it because he didn’t know what was going on as all the directors, technicians, stage hands and other entertainers rushed around getting everything ready. The clip wasn’t intended to show Hope in this light; it was illustrating some other point. But he looked so lost and out of it that I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. So beware! It isn’t only that you miss out on sounds you’d like to hear if your hearing goes, but you also become a burden on those around you and you look really out of it. If you don’t mind losing sounds from your life, maybe the thought that you’ll look helpless and be out of it much of the time will resonate with you instead. Disclaimer: I’m aware some of my comments may appear insensitive to those with hearing loss due to no fault of their own. I’m sure any such people wouldn’t appreciate some of my observations, but in their case it isn’t their fault. My intent was to try to drive home the fact that the prospect of losing your hearing should be taken seriously and that there are ramifications one wouldn’t normally think of. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/28 "2004-08-08T08:27:27Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > You gotta wonder, too, why so many restaurants seem to keep the music up so loud that you practically have to yell to talk to anyone. Well, my guess would be they don’t really _want_ their guests talking a lot. They’s probably prefer that their customers eat up and leave, thereby freeing up a table for more paying customers. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/29 "2004-08-08T12:16:08Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > I guess I’m lucky. I listen to loud music in my car every day. I have listened to very loud music on walkmans since they came out. I have been to many, many loud concerts. > > And my hearing is still perfect. > Knock on wood. Same here. I play in a VERY loud band in a somewhat confines basement. I’m 41. Nothing yet. ::knocks furiously on wood:: ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/30 "2004-08-08T12:28:45Z")
Well, to you guys who have dodged a bullet so far, STOP! _STOP_ listening to it so loud! It may take a while, but odds are very good that you _will_ suffer hearing loss. Or perhaps it has already started, and you don’t notice it yet? Had a hearing test lately? Check the cites. They pretty much spell it out. You are gambling with your hearing Big Time if you keep listening to music so loud. My mom was 60-something when she started to lose her hearing, and it’s gotten worse every year. She’s a singer and musician. It SUCKS for her. So stop knocking on that wood and just be more careful, would’ya? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/31 "2004-08-08T12:33:51Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > So stop knocking on that wood and just be more careful, would’ya? I forgot to add that I do now take precautions… But y’know, with all this wearing earplugs at concerts and wearing condoms for sex, what’s next? A stomach rubber so that you don’t actually digest stuff you eat? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/32 "2004-08-08T12:48:59Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > I forgot to add that I do now take precautions… > > But y’know, with all this wearing earplugs at concerts and wearing condoms for sex, what’s next? A stomach rubber so that you don’t actually digest stuff you eat? I’ve worn earplugs at concerts and dance clubs since I was 18, after an operation left me sensitive to high-pitched noises. People sometimes give me funny looks or say “Are you wearing _earplugs_?” in a kind of snotty way. But it’s worth it. It does not interfere in any way with my ability to hear the music (or feel the bass beat), it spares me pain, and best of all…no ringing the next day! ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/33 "2004-08-08T12:54:08Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > I forgot to add that I do now take precautions… Good to hear (hear—I crack myself up ;)) that! > [@](#): > > But y’know, with all this wearing earplugs at concerts and wearing condoms for sex, what’s next? A lot of us are capable of enjoying music without it blasting our ears out. In fact, I believe that it is entirely possible to go through your life and have many a rich and full music listening experience without ever having to risk permanent hearing loss. But you know, if some people believe that listening to it loud _now_ is so important, even when they know that down the line their hearing will go down the toilet, well, they should enjoy the music. While they still can . . . 😉 I know, I know, humorless wet blanket, I know . . . But I don’t want anyone saying that they “didn’t know” what loud music could do, y’know? ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/34 "2004-08-08T14:47:57Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > I forgot to add that I do now take precautions… > > But y’know, with all this wearing earplugs at concerts and wearing condoms for sex, what’s next? A stomach rubber so that you don’t actually digest stuff you eat? I’ve actually found that I can hear the music better with ear plugs. It doesn’t physically hurt my ears and I can hear a lot more of the actual music; it sounds a lot more clean and crisp. (Bear in mind I don’t know anything about music theory or the details of music, so I’m just bumbling along with bad explanations) If I wear plugs, there are a lot of notes (?) and just overall sounds that burst open for my hearing that I won’t hear when the music is set way too loud. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/35 "2004-08-08T15:27:45Z")
> [@TonyF](#): > > I’d like to echo this to some musicians out there. > > I do sound reinforcement for a few bands, and most of these guys have played for so loud for so long that their hearing is quite affected and they can’t help but play at ear-splitting levels. Otherwise they don’t think it’s loud enough. > > Unfortunately due to my setup, I can’t do anything but make them louder. Maybe you can get some equipment that can be turned up to 11. That should make it louder. ---
**Author:** ![Israfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/87869e/32.png) [@Israfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Israfel)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/36 "2004-08-08T15:41:27Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > It doesn’t physically hurt my ears and I can hear a lot more of the actual music; it sounds a lot more clean and crisp. (Bear in mind I don’t know anything about music theory or the details of music, so I’m just bumbling along with bad explanations) If I wear plugs, there are a lot of notes (?) and just overall sounds that burst open for my hearing that I won’t hear when the music is set way too loud. I’ve noticed this as well. I listen to a great deal of classical music and when I started listening to the music at softer volumes I was _extremely_ shocked at how much of the music I had been missing out on previously. And I’m talking about fairly major stuff- like, “Holy whatsits! I didn’t know this piece had a piano in it” type stuff. And it’s no accident that when one is transcribing music it’s recommended that the volume not be too high. At high volumes the sound becomes too distorted to accurately hear. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/37 "2004-08-08T17:37:27Z")
I work in a very loud factory, earplugs are required safety equipment. That doesn’t mean, however, that everyone wears them all the time, in fact most of my coworkers don’t. I wore them from my first day, the noise would make my head ache if I didn’t, and at ten years seniority it’s becoming very apparent who’s worn them consistently and who hasn’t. The company tests our hearing annually, but since everyone’s report always shows “no significant loss” one wonders how accurate the testing really is. I’m particularly close to one work girlfriend, we invite one another to one another’s parties and she’s great, but I’ve found myself making excuses to avoid hanging out with her outside of work because she’s so incredibly loud and I tire of repeating myself. She’s only forty, for pete’s sake, and refuses to believe her hearing’s been damaged at all. We can enjoy going to concerts together, at least, although she rolls her eyes at me when I pop in a pair of earplugs. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/38 "2004-08-08T20:32:29Z")
Anyone have a standard for “loud” music? Something with facts, not “if the car next to you can hear it” type answers. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/39 "2004-08-08T20:46:37Z")
I believe the cites I list in the OP give specific decibels and examples of what kinds of sounds are in what decibel range. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650/40 "2004-08-08T20:47:12Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > Anyone have a standard for “loud” music? Something with facts, not “if the car next to you can hear it” type answers. [This site](http://www.lhh.org/noise/threats.htm) has lots of great information. Here’s part of it: > [@](#): > > Standards set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) indicate that continued exposure to noise over 85 dBA will eventually harm your hearing. The exposure time allowed is cut in half for every 5 decibel increase. For example, if a sound is 95 dBA, then 4 hours of exposure, over time, could cause hearing loss, and exposure to sounds at 115 dBA for just 15 minutes a day will cause hearing loss. The risk is widespread. The thousands of people who listen to personal stereo systems at hazardous levels for hours a day, for example, face an almost inevitable hearing loss as the result of their long-term exposure. > [@](#): > > Noise-induced hearing loss occurs gradually and without pain. Often, by the time a person realizes that there is a hearing loss, it is too late. But there are certain early indications to suggest that there may be a problem. Here are some warning signs to watch for: > > A ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) in the ears immediately after exposure to noise > > A slight muffling of sounds after exposure so that it’s difficult to understand people when you leave a noisy area > > Difficulty understanding speech; that is, you can hear all the words, but you can’t understand all of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-dont-have-to-play-it-that-loud-but-if-you-do-you-will-lose-your-hearing/258650.md?page=3)