I'm glad to see there's organizations promoting awareness of hearing loss. I'm 26 and have been going to many shows, mostly with unprotected ears, for the past 13 years.

Needless to say I have minor hearing loss in one ear and have had tinnitus to varying degrees for the past year and a half. The first 6 months with that constant ringing were unbearable and completely disorientating. On top of that you find out there's nothing anyone can do for you to stop it. You learn to live with it but it's not the easiest thing to do.

Don't think it won't happen to you. If you go to a lot of shows and are constantly around loud music be careful.

I try to never go to a show without hearing protection. I used those cheap foam earplugs from the drugstore for years, and they do a good job protecting the ears. But they also muffle out the sound which is a lot of why I think people avoid earplugs. A couple years ago I got the earplugs that filter the sound and reduce the volume without muffling. They can be found online for around $10 to $15 and are great. There is no reason not to use them. I have been going to 75+ shows a year for 15 years. Earplugs are a must.

My boss used to yell at me if I forgot to bring ear protection to a show. He'd make me leave until I came back with some. Now I see he's like an undercovah Don't Lose the Music spokesbruthah.

It's just good practice to protect the various holes on your body. Period.

if it's too loud, you're too old