In Monday’s story, “Loud pieces put orchestra musicians’ hearing at risk,” we learn that most members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra have to take steps to limit the deafening sound when they’re performing on stage. Many who have performed at Powell Hall for years have some degree of hearing loss.

But what about the rest of us in the audience, watching and listening to concerts? In the case of a symphony orchestra, the sound normally dissipates enough that it shouldn’t cause much of a problem for orchestra patrons. But go to a rock or heavy metal concert - now that’s a different story.

Have you ever gone to a Van Halen or Mega Death concert and left with ringing ears that lingered for an hour or more? Is your hearing worse because of your concert past?