Professional Musicians are at Higher Risk for Developing Hearing Loss

Did you know that professional musicians are nearly 4 times as likely to have a hearing loss than non-musicians? Musicians face a lot of unique hearing challenges, and often practice, record, or perform in dangerously loud settings. These working conditions greatly increase their risk of noise induced hearing loss and puts their hearing health at risk. Unlike construction workers who readily protect their hearing to block out dangerously loud sounds on the jobsite, musicians often choose not to wear hearing protection so they can hear the music as clearly as possible, increasing their risk of hearing loss.

What is Noise Induced Hearing Loss?

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is hearing loss caused by exposure to dangerously loud noises in the environment. This can be a sudden hearing loss from one extremely loud event, such as standing right beside fireworks, or firing a gun at the shooting range without hearing protection. NIHL can also be a gradual process, and for musicians who are exposed to dangerously loud sounds every day, this hearing loss can creep up on them during the course of their career.

Understanding Decibels

So how loud is too loud? When it comes to hearing loss, any sounds over 85 decibels (dB) is too loud, and over exposure to these sounds will lead to hearing loss. Safe sounds include normal conversation (60 dB), light office noise (70 dB), and the average sound of a vacuum cleaner (80 dB). Sounds that can harm hearing include:

• Heavy traffic noise (85-89 dB)
• Subway noise (90 dB)
• Car stereo (100 dB)
• Driving a motorcycle (100 dB)
• Using a chainsaw (110 dB)
• Attending a rock concert (115-120 dB)
• Gun shot at close range (140 dB)

When you’re exposed to any of these sounds for more than a few minutes, the cells of the inner ear will be damaged, and you’ll start to experience the effects of tinnitus or hearing loss. A good rule of thumb is that if you must shout to have a conversation with the person standing next to you it’s too loud, and you’re risking your hearing health.

Hearing Loss and Musicians

Hearing loss is more common among musicians, who are often in very loud environments, and don’t always wear hearing protection. They’re far more likely to have hearing loss, and 57% more likely to struggle with tinnitus, that ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears. Professional musicians, whether playing in a symphony orchestra or in a rock band, are exposed to dangerously loud noise every day, and this impacts their ability to hear all the sounds around them, including the music they love so much. NIHL affects high pitched sounds first, and musicians will struggle to hear certain pitches in the music, and music will lose it’s rich, full sound. Not only does this make it hard to perform, it robs musicians of their enjoyment of music.

The Importance of Protecting Hearing

Hearing is one of our most important senses, and once hearing has been lost, it can never be fully restored. Musicians who are exposed to the daily threat of very loud noise need to protect their hearing every day, and safeguard not only their hearing health but also their livelihood. When practicing, sound amplifiers should be turned down to safe levels, and sound shields should be used on stage to protect performers’ hearing.

Hearing Protection for Musicians

Both professional and amateur musicians should wear hearing protection on and off stage. From daily practice to group rehearsals and performances in packed venues, musicians need specialized hearing protection. Musicians earplugs are in-the-ear devices that will block out all the harmful sounds that can damage the ears and lead to hearing loss or tinnitus.

While musicians can protect their hearing with traditional earplugs or earmuffs, many opt for customized musicians ear plugs that are molded to the ear and sit comfortably in the outer ear. These ear plugs are digital devices, and they analyze all the sounds in the environment. Soft sounds that won’t cause hearing loss are allowed to reach the ear normally, and the musician will be able to hear all the subtle sounds in the music. Loud sounds that can cause hearing loss are blocked, and those sounds are reduced to safe levels before they reach the cells of the inner ear.