Why do I hear ringing after concerts?

That ringing is tinnitus, and the cause is the concert. Sound is measured by tiny hair cells inside your inner ear, and hours of loud music overwork them - they respond by misfiring, producing a ringing, buzzing, or roaring that does not come from any outside source. MedlinePlus lists exposure to loud noises as a direct cause of tinnitus. The common experience is the temporary version: ringing and a slightly muffled, cotton-wool hearing quality that fades over a day or two as the cells recover. Treat that recovery window as a warning shot, not an all-clear. The damage from loud noise is cumulative over a lifetime - each concert adds to the total, and the NHS notes tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss - so the ears that stop ringing by Tuesday can still be carrying permanent wear into your forties. The fix is cheap and uncool until it is not: high-fidelity musician's earplugs (they lower volume without muffling), standing away from speakers, and giving your ears quiet days after loud events. During a ringing spell, the NHS suggests avoiding total silence - soft background sound makes tinnitus less noticeable - and skipping caffeine and stress where you can. See a GP if ringing lasts more than a few days after a loud event, is in one ear only, beats in time with your pulse, or comes with hearing loss or dizziness - those versions get investigated. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you judge your ears.