Concert earplugs,
does it really help with Prevention of temporary hearing-threshold shift immediately after amplified music exposure?
research showsThe grade is C. In a festival RCT with 4.5 hours of exposure averaging 100 dBA, temporary threshold shift at 3 and 4 kHz occurred in 4/50 ears (8%) with earplugs versus 22/52 ears (42%) without protection; the unprotected-to-earplug RR was 5.3 (95% CI 2.0-14.3). The effect was large, but it came from 51 people at one festival and measured a short-term surrogate, giving C with 50 points.
ads claimIt is accurate to say the plugs reduced immediate post-event hearing change. It is not accurate to convert this into certain prevention of permanent hearing loss or assume every plug produces the same attenuation.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- The trial plug was an MTV Soundkeepr product labeled for 18-dB noise reduction.
- Average music exposure was 100 dBA for 4.5 hours.
- Existing earplug verdicts mainly address sleep or delirium, not post-concert hearing threshold.
What the research actually shows
Ramakers recruited 51 normal-hearing adults who did not intend to use earplugs, assigning 25 to MTV Soundkeepr plugs labeled for 18-dB attenuation and 26 to no protection. Mean sound exposure was 100 dBA for 4.5 hours. Temporary threshold shift occurred in 4/50 versus 22/52 ears, NNT 2.9. New tinnitus occurred in 3 versus 10 of 25 respondents per group, absolute difference 28 points (95% CI 3.6-49.0). Support involved UMC Utrecht, MTV Benelux, Van Boxtel, and Oticon Medical; MTV Soundkeepr supplied the plugs, and no conflicts were reported.
Why this is classified as C (50)
A small single-festival trial showed a large reduction in the prespecified primary threshold shift, but the endpoint was surrogate and the sample was 51, giving C with 50 points.
Counterpoint. Real attenuation varies with fit and product, and exposure duration and distance from speakers still matter.
Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — We cross-checked the prespecified primary outcome, analyzed denominators, event counts, noise exposure, funding, and product supply against the JAMA report and NTR5401 record.
| Endpoint | S | Surrogate marker - laboratory or imaging measures |
| Replication | R1 | Single confirmatory trial |
| Independence | I1 | Mixed funding sources |
| Effect size | E+ | Meets the clinically important threshold |
The scoring table and the verdict agree (C).
Sub-claim grades by effect
This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.
| Effect (sub-claim) | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Concert earplugs reduce immediate temporary hearing-threshold shift. | C | The 51-person RCT found 8% versus 42%. |
| Concert earplugs prevent permanent hearing loss. | ? | The identified randomized trial reported only immediate short-term measurements. |
Cross-check — Codex and Claude
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 | Single-blind randomized clinical trial | 52 | Support involving UMC Utrecht, MTV Benelux, Van Boxtel, and Oticon Medical; MTV Soundkeepr supplied plugs; no conflicts reported | Temporary post-exposure threshold shift at 3 and 4 kHz | 4/50 ears (8%) versus 22/52 ears (42%); unprotected/earplug RR 5.3 (95% CI 2.0-14.3); new tinnitus 3/25 versus 10/25 | Registered pivotal direct trial |
Receipt — 2 References
Of 2 cited sources, 1 had limited original-page access (blocked or summary-only) and were verified via index/summary, marked partial; the rest were verified at the original page. As of 2026-08-14.
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-08-14 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Concert earplugs x prevention of temporary hearing loss — Evidence Grade C·50. 2 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/general/concert-earplugs-temporary-threshold-shift/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
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