The hottest accessory at music festivals and concerts this summer is a pair of earplugs.

• More young music fans are donning earplugs and protecting their ears now so they can keep enjoying live shows as they get older, AP reports.

Zoom in: Our hearing is damaged by exposure to loud noises over time.

• Starting at around 85 decibels, which is roughly the noise level of city traffic, prolonged, hourslong listening can damage hearing.

The noise at concerts — both from speakers and from the crowd — is often far above that level. Rock shows typically range from about 90 to 120 decibels.

• The louder the noise, the less time it takes to hurt your ears.

How it works: The inner ear contains tiny hair cells that convert sound waves into electrical signals that the brain can interpret.

• Think of those cells like a field of grass, USC audiologist Asia Pon tells AP. If trampled once, the blades bend over but eventually stand back up. But after repeated tramplings, they can't bounce back.

Wearing earplugs might slightly muffle the sound of your favorite artist belting your favorite song now, but it's likely to preserve your ability to keep listening to music as you age.

• Plus, as earplugs become a common concert accessory, more stylish options are emerging, from blinged-out pairs to plugs with attached earrings, so you can match your gear to your fit.

This late spring masterpiece comes from reader Donna Leavitt of Sugar Hill, N.H.

• "We're known for our lupines. These alpine flowers pop up everywhere in June," Donna tells us.