Moby concert and ear damage?

If the ear is resisting sounds, it will sustain permanent damage much quicker than a relaxed ear. When we tense up and resist sounds, that is like tensing when falling - makes for a greater impact. At least, this is what my audiologist told me. I had some tinnitus a number of years ago and the doctor told me to wear earplugs when sleeping, never drive with the windows down (that compression thing Theo talked about), and try to relax when exposed to loud sounds. I have done all these things religiously for 10 years and, believe it or not, my tinnitus is almost gone.

I've been told this is not possible but it's happened to me. The Dr. said we need to rest and relax our ears just like our eyes when we close them. Trick is to get the foam earplugs set deep and tight. Took me 3 months to get that right.

Emailists - If half the foam plug is sticking out of your ear, it's not in as it should be. It took me 3 months of practice but I get even the longest foam plug all the way in, it disappears. I can get them in so deep I can't hear my wife talking next to me. You have to roll the plug between your fingers until it's thin and hard, then pull the ear diagonally up & back. This opens up the ear and the thin hard plug goes as deep as you like.

David12 - My doctor told me that the hair cells in the ear react to loud sounds by tensing and that constant tensing causes the hearing damage. He said when these cells are relaxed they react less to loudness. Said natural sounds such as thunder, water rushing, and acoustic instruments are less damaging to hearing because the ear is more relaxed upon exposure. Said unnatural sounds such as amplified instruments, electronic "music", and grinding machines cause more damage as the ear generally tenses more.
He said the tissue to which the hair cells attach tense at exposure to sounds - loud sounds cause more tension. The more relaxed a person (and his ears) are, the less reaction and damage.

I know this is true as regards the rest of the body. A drunk can fall many times and not hurt himself because he's so relaxed. 40 years of martial arts and kickboxing (and good coaching) taught me that relaxation is the most important thing in fighting. Proper relaxation in the ring allows quicker action, better balance, and harder hitting. Relaxation also reduces the effects of getting hit. Tensing right at the moment of getting punched or kicked increases pain and damage such as broken bones and torn tendons.

Maybe the hair cells get damaged more and quicker while tense because the connecting tissues "wear out" in some way. Being tense while even just sparring in the gym wears you out in minutes. I'm 58 and I can spar 6-7 rounds without much trouble. I'm fine at the end but I am a very relaxed fighter. I spar with guys in their 20s and 30s who "gas" in 2-3 rounds, a time when I'm not really even breathing heavily.