Children need ear protection at any concert that is loud enough to make you raise your voice to the person beside you. Shows with speakers and outdoor concerts with fireworks are the likely cases. For young children, health groups recommend earmuffs, not earplugs. This page explains the numbers and how to decide.
This page gives general information from public health agencies. Ask your child’s doctor or an audiologist about your own child’s hearing.
What the health agencies say
The U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) says sound at or below 70 decibels is considered safe, even for a long time. Sound at or above 85 decibels can damage hearing over time. The louder the sound, the less time it takes.
| Sound level | Time before damage becomes more likely |
|---|---|
| 70 decibels or less | Considered safe |
| 85 decibels | A few hours |
| 100 decibels | 14 minutes |
| 110 decibels | 2 minutes |
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises caregivers not to bring young children to places with excessive noise. It names concerts, sporting events, and fireworks displays. If children do go, the AAP says they should wear protective earmuffs. That includes babies. It also says the 85-decibel limit was set for adult workers and should not be assumed to be safe for children.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) says that audiologists recommend well-fitting earmuffs for children.
ASHA says hearing loss from noise can be prevented, and that it is permanent once it happens.
How loud are concerts?
NIDCD puts concerts, sporting events, and headphones at full volume in the range of 94 to 110 decibels. ASHA says a loud concert may reach 115 decibels. Fireworks are far louder, at 140 to 160 decibels.
These pages do not say what kind of concert they measured. A symphony concert in a hall is usually played without speakers, and the level in the seats changes with the music, the size of the orchestra, and where you sit. We found no official figure for the audience at an orchestra concert to quote here. NIDCD does list band and orchestra rehearsals and performances among the times to wear hearing protection. The list does not say whether it means the players, the audience, or both.
So use the test below, not a rule about the kind of music.
A test you can do in your seat
NIDCD gives three signs that a sound is too loud.
- You have to raise your voice to be heard by someone an arm’s length away.
- The sound hurts your ears.
- Your ears ring or buzz during the sound or after it.
A phone app that measures sound level gives a number to go with the test. ASHA says many of these apps are free.
When to bring ear protection
| Event | Bring ear protection? |
|---|---|
| Outdoor concert with fireworks or cannons | Yes, for everyone |
| Amplified concert: pop, rock, film music with a sound system, stadium shows | Yes |
| Seats close to the stage | Bring it. Use the test. |
| School band or orchestra rehearsal, for the players | Ask the teacher. NIDCD lists these as times to wear protection. |
| Symphony concert, seats in the middle or back of the hall | Bring it. Use the test. |
| Chamber music or a solo recital | Use the test |
| A baby or toddler at any concert | Yes, bring earmuffs |
Earmuffs are light to carry. A child can put them on for a loud piece and take them off for a quiet one.
Earmuffs or earplugs?
| Earmuffs | Earplugs | |
|---|---|---|
| Who they suit | Babies and young children | Older children, teens, and adults |
| How they work | Padded cups cover both ears | Soft plugs sit in the ear canal |
| Ease of use | Easy to put on right | Have to be put in with care to work |
| Safety | The AAP names them for babies and young children | A choking hazard for young children, the AAP warns |
For older children and teens, NIDCD describes high-fidelity earplugs. They lower all pitches by the same amount, so the music keeps its balance. NIDCD says they are useful at concerts.
Tips for earmuffs:
- Buy a child size. NIDCD says child sizes are sold, and that earmuffs are easier than earplugs for young children to use well.
- Check the seal. NIDCD says glasses, hats, and some hair styles can leave a gap.
- Look for the noise reduction rating (NRR). A higher number blocks more sound.
- Let your child wear them at home first, so they are not a surprise.
A table from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cotton in the ears, winter ear warmers, and audio headphones are not hearing protection.
Other ways to lower the risk
- Sit farther back. Sound drops with distance. Do not sit beside the speakers.
- Take breaks. Go out to the lobby for a few minutes each hour.
- Leave if the sound hurts. The AAP says to consider leaving early when a child complains, covers the ears, or seems uncomfortable.
- Pick the right concert. Read first orchestra concert with kids.
Children who are sensitive to sound
Some children find ordinary loud sounds painful or frightening. The AAP suggests earmuffs or over-the-ear headsets for children with sound sensitivity. Some orchestras also offer concerts with lower sound and room to move. Read sensory-friendly concerts for kids. For lessons, read music lessons for autistic kids.
Young musicians
A child who plays in a band or an orchestra sits in the sound for hours each week. The CDC table puts band class at 90 decibels and gives two hours as the limit for repeated exposure at that level. Ask the band or orchestra teacher about hearing protection. ASHA suggests musicians’ earplugs for people who play an instrument.
Related pages
- Best seats for kids: orchestra, mezzanine, or balcony
- Concert etiquette for kids: rules and how to practice
- How to practice violin quietly in an apartment
- School band and orchestra: a parent’s guide to year one
Sources
Checked in November 2026.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. How loud is too loud?
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Hearing protectors.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Protect your child’s hearing.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP sounds alarm on excessive noise risks to children. HealthyChildren.org.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Tips to preserve your child’s hearing during the holidays. HealthyChildren.org.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Protect your hearing during noisy summer events.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. ’Tis the season to protect your hearing.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About hearing loss: noise-induced hearing loss signs. Archived page.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.