For professional musicians, hearing isn’t just a sense, it’s a vital part of their art and livelihood. Surprisingly, many musicians still perform under the impression that hearing loss is an unavoidable element of their profession. This is both an outdated and unhealthy mindset. Luckily, this harmful mindset is being challenged by growing awareness and recent legal changes which highlight how important the use of hearing protection is.
Noisy work environments and hearing safety
Musicians aren’t the only professionals exposed to loud noise levels. Vocations in construction, manufacturing, and other noisy industries also encounter similar risks. However, these fields have typically been quicker to adopt protective strategies compared to the music industry. There are several reasons for this:
- Hazard Awareness: In construction and manufacturing, the range of hazards, like heavy machinery and falling objects, necessitates the use of safety gear including hard hats and ear protection. This practice is well-incorporated into the work culture, making protective gear a basic expectation.
- Performance Concerns: Musicians tend to shun hearing protection devices because they’re concerned that their sense of hearing will be dulled. There’s a widespread misconception that earplugs or earmuffs may interfere with sound quality or performance, despite evidence to the contrary. This resistance is typically based on outdated information.
- Cultural Norms: The arts typically foster an environment where professionals feel lucky just to have a job, leading them to accept suboptimal conditions without objection. Many people in the music industry feel as if raising concerns could put their careers at risk so they keep their potential concerns about inadequate hearing protection to themselves.
It’s not only the musicians who face this “just part of the job” mentality, it also includes roadies, sound engineers, and event staff, whose hearing is also at risk. A considerable number of individuals in the music industry have experienced hearing issues due to this collective complacency.
Attitudes are changing as a result of legal precedents
Industry mindsets with regard to hearing protection are changing due to numerous legal cases. This shift is highlighted by a groundbreaking legal case involving the Royal Opera House in London. A viola player, exposed to hazardously high noise levels from the brass section during a performance, suffered major hearing damage and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate protection. The viola player won the case and the court’s ruling declared that the music industry has to follow workplace safety standards, and that includes hearing protection.
This ruling serves as a crucial reminder that no profession, including the music industry, is exempt from the need for reliable hearing protection. It’s also forcing industry leaders to make the health and safety of their contractors and employees a focal point.
Dealing with acoustic shock and tinnitus
It’s alarming how many music professionals suffer from some level of hearing loss and tinnitus. Repeated tinnitus, permanent hearing damage, and hyperacusis caused by exposure to very loud sound is known as acoustic shock. For DJs, musicians, and their crews who are constantly exposed to loud sound this is an especially acute risk.
Luckily, modern hearing protection technologies, including specialty earplugs and earmuffs, are designed to safeguard hearing without compromising sound quality.
Nurturing hearing loss prevention as a culture
The availability of reliable hearing protection is no longer the issue; instead, it’s about cultivating a cultural shift within the music and entertainment industries. The main objective is to move away from the antiquated idea that hearing loss is just an inescapable part of being in the music industry and to normalize the use of protection. The case of the Royal Opera House underscores the need to safeguard people’s hearing by taking proactive measures.
As awareness increases and protective strategies become standard, the incidence of tinnitus and hearing loss in the music industry should decline. Hearing loss should never be considered “part of the job”. Protecting their hearing health and taking the proper safety measures is crucial for every professional no matter what their job is.
By embracing this new paradigm, musicians and industry professionals can safeguard their most valuable asset, their hearing, while continuing to excel in their craft.
If you’re in the music industry and concerned about your hearing health, call us to schedule a hearing screening.