Musicians rock. Their songs bring us so much enjoyment. But music is a lot more powerful when it’s loud, and that can be a hearing risk. The musicians themselves are at an even greater risk of hearing damage since they are exposed to loud music just about every day.
As you get older, you’ll still want to be capable of enjoying your favorite songs whether you’re a musician or not. For musicians, preserving their hearing is the key to a lengthy and successful career. Hearing protection is also key to a lifetime of musical fulfillment for everybody.
Sometimes it can be surprising how loud music can get
Most people would say that a jet engine is really loud.
But what about music? If you ask somebody whether an acoustic guitar or a lone violin is noisy, they may not reply so quickly. Imagine their surprise when they discover the reality: That can also be very loud music! Even classical music can reach fairly high volumes that can easily damage your hearing.
Sounds louder than 90 dB can be created by a violin, for example. A leaf blower is around this noisy. In Europe, for example, they have regulations that require ear protection for anyone who works in a work environment where there is noise louder than 85 dB.
And if you’re working with music day in and day out, constant exposure to that kind of volume, particularly without ear protection, can severely harm your hearing over time.
Can you protect your ears from noise damage?
Okay, now you recognize that musicians need to safeguard their hearing (especially if they want to keep on rocking out for years to come). So what can musicians do to protect their ears and still take pleasure in the music they love so much?
Here are a couple of tips:
- Take breaks: Much like any part of your body, your ears can become exhausted and might need a little break. So take frequent breaks from the noise. In this way, noises won’t overwhelm and harm your ears. Regarding hearing, how long you’re exposed is almost as significant as how loud it is. The difference between the ideal amount of stimulation and too much can come down to taking regular breaks.
- Track your volume: Everybody knows the old saying “knowledge is power”. So it makes sense that you should always be aware of what levels of sound you’re exposing your ears to. Usually, this is as easy as monitoring your volume settings on amps and receivers. But you can also invest in a volume meter app for your cellphone to make it convenient to monitor the real-world volume levels your ears are encountering from day-to-day. You will want to make a few changes if the meter consistently reads louder than 85 dB.
Wear hearing protection
Using hearing protection is the single most effective way to safeguard your hearing. Many musicians are hesitant to use ear protection because they’re concerned it will effect the clarity of sound they hear, as well as dampening the volume. But depending on what type of hearing protection you use, that may not always be true.
- Ear plugs made specifically for musicians: Most individuals are most likely familiar with disposable ear plugs. They don’t always fit well, but they do reliably block a lot of sound. They aren’t hard to get, aren’t expensive, and can be disposed of easily. For musicians, they aren’t an ideal solution. But earplugs just for musicians are also available at a slightly higher cost. A special material and state-of-the-art engineering are used to help these earplugs fit snuggly in the ear and decrease external noise by about 20% while maintaining the audio fidelity. This option is perfect for musicians who need a light to moderate level of protection (and who don’t have a ton of money to invest in earplugs, or are likely to misplace them).
- Electronic earplugs: The same basic functionality found in non-electronic earplugs can also be found in electronic earplugs. The majority of the sound will be blocked by the earplug itself. But the earplug itself will send in the sound you hear. This option is perfect for individuals who work in particularly loud environments, and who want more options in terms of volume control.
- In-ear monitors: Most music is electronic now, or at least amplified by electronics. An in-ear monitor takes those electronic signals and conveys them directly to a device placed inside of your ear (called an in-ear monitor). The majority of monitors are little speakers that fit tightly and block out most sound while playing sounds you want to hear at safe volumes. This means you can hear exactly how you sound, at a volume you control. For musicians who electronically amplify their instruments these in-ear-monitors are the ideal answer.
Safeguard your career by protecting your ears
It’s never too late to take measures to protect your hearing, but it’s definitely a good plan to begin sooner rather than later. Everybody can protect their hearing and future with hearing protection options at all price points. Keep in mind, hearing protection for a musician is an investment in your career. It’s one way to ensure you’ll be making amazing music for many years (maybe even decades) to come!
Give us a call so we can help you get started.