Here, she gives us her top tips for surviving festival season with your hearing in tip-top condition:

Protect your hearing from loud noises

“Wear earplugs at concerts, clubs or other noisy environments. Invest in good earplugs with music filters, such as Loop earplugs, as these reduce the volume without distorting the sound quality.”

Pay attention to the volume of your earphones

“A good rule of thumb is to not set the volume higher than 60% of the maximum setting and take regular listening breaks.”

Check your hearing regularly

“Preventive hearing tests help to detect hearing loss early. Hearing aids and other technology can improve your listening experience, and subtitles make information more accessible.”

Give your ears a rest every now and then

“Step out of the hustle and bustle every now and then to let your hearing recover. A map of the event site is useful so you can find a quiet spot. Escaping the noise for a while helps to relieve your hearing.”

Avoid the loudest areas

“Don’t stand right next to the speakers at concerts, but choose a place where the volume is a little lower. Pay attention to the duration of exposure: the longer you are in a loud environment, the greater the risk of hearing damage.”

If your ears are still ringing the morning after a concert or a festival, Stalpaert recommends giving your ears a rest. “Avoid loud environments and loud noises for the next 24 hours and provide a soothing environment to allow your hearing to recover. If the ringing does not disappear after a night’s sleep, consult a doctor.”

How to protect your hearing (and still enjoy the music) at your next festival or concert