It’s summer, so pack your earplugs!

by Nina Berman, Editor

Photo Credit: George Charry

It’s summer concert season where noise from bands and screaming crowds vastly exceeds safe levels.  Young people can still enjoy themselves and protect their hearing if they wear ear plugs and wear them correctly according to a story in the Associated Press.

Asia Pon, an audiologist at Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California, told the AP that the best way to insert foam plugs is to pull the ear up and back to straighten the ear canal, then roll the plug and tightly squeeze it before inserting it into the ear as deep as it will go.  Then hold the plug in place until it expands.  Check in the mirror to make sure no large chunks are sticking out. And only wear foam plugs once.  Many venues distribute ear plugs as entrance gates.

The social stigma of wearing earplugs appears to be waning as more people realize that just because they’re young doesn’t mean they are immune to the dangers of loud concert noise. And companies are responding by offering fashion forward ear plug accessories to make them more attractive.

One concert goer told the AP that she now keeps a pair of ear plugs attached to her keys after realizing that the concert experience was just as good with the protection.  “After the first few songs, it's like they weren't even there. I was just enjoying the show,” she said.