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Pete Townsend, guitarist and songwriter for The Who, who suffers from ringing in the ears, attended the then so-called "Loudest Concert Ever" in 1976, according to the Guinness Book of Records. You don't have to attend the loudest concert ever to develop ringing in the ears, known formally as tinnitus.
Identification
The ears can handle a threshold of 100 db of sound in short exposures before damage ensues. Sound levels at concerts range from 120 to 140 db.
Function
Loud music experienced at concerts vibrates and overstimulates hair cells in the cochlea of the ear. The damage can lead to hearing loss and a perception of sound that isn't there.
Time Frame
Repeated exposure to loud music at concerts causes hearing to decrease gradually over time, according to Vanderbilt Medical Center audiologist Lisa Sykes.
Expert Insight
According to a study at the University of Michigan Kresge Hearing Research Institute, ringing in the ears may be caused by overactive nerves in the face and neck that sense touch. These nerves compensate for loss of hearing and produce a "phantom sound" in the brain.
Significance
According to an MTV.com survey, nearly half of 2,500 respondents reported experiencing tinnitus after being exposed to loud music.
Source:
Vanderbilt Medical Center: MTV survey cranks up the volume on loud music's impact on hearing
More Information:
CNN Health: Metallica drummer struggles with ringing in ears
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