The phenomenon of using extreme-power loudspeakers, popularly known as 'sound horeg', has come under sharp scrutiny from the medical community. An Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist from Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), Dr. Indra Setiawan, Sp.THT, warned of a serious threat to the public's hearing health due to exposure to thundering sound levels exceeding the human body's tolerance threshold.
Referring to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, safe sound exposure for the human ear is a maximum of 85 decibels for up to eight hours a day. However, noise levels at sound horeg shows often surge to between 120 and 135 decibels. Technically, every three-decibel increase halves the safe exposure duration. Under conditions of 130 decibels, the human ear is estimated to withstand the sound for only 1.5 seconds before the risk of physical injury occurs.
The most fatal consequence of high-intensity sound exposure is permanent damage to the cochlea, the part of the inner ear responsible for converting sound energy into electrical impulses sent to the brain. If the hair cells in this area are damaged, hearing loss becomes irreversible. Furthermore, the air pressure from ultra-loud bass thumps risks causing trauma to the middle ear, such as damage to the ossicles or even a ruptured eardrum requiring surgical intervention.
Several cases of hearing loss in the Malang area have been reported alongside the widespread use of sound horeg in public spaces. Patients often fail to notice hearing deterioration early on until they begin experiencing difficulties in social interactions. Many sufferers only become aware of their condition when the damage reaches a stage that interferes with daily life.
As a mitigation effort, Dr. Indra emphasized that simple hearing protection devices, such as foam earplugs, can only reduce noise by about 10 decibels and are considered ineffective against the sheer intensity of sound horeg. The most rational preventive measure is to avoid event locations altogether, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, to prevent long-term adverse impacts on auditory health.
