
What in the World
What in the World
Should you wear earplugs to concerts?
10 July 2026
Available for over a year
According to the National Institute of Health, long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss. The noise levels at a big concert or live music gig typically fall between 90 and 120 dBA, according to the British Academy of Audiology. These levels depend on things like the type of music, whether the venue is indoors or outdoors, and how close you stand to the speakers.
So what impact is this level of noise having on our ears and can the trendy, visible earplugs that are booming online protect you from hearing loss. We speak to Andrew Rogers from BBC Newsbeat who has been reporting from gigs and festivals across the UK and speaking to earplug users.
BBC Health Correspondent, James Gallagher gives us a full explanation on what happens inside our ears when we are in loud environments.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Lucy Davies, Benita Barden,Eleanor Sly and Liv Cleal
Editor: Verity Wilde
