Hearing is an essential part of a professional musician’s living and art, not only a mere sense. Surprisingly, many musicians still operate under the impression that hearing loss is an inescapable feature of their profession. This frame of mind, which views hearing damage as an inevitable consequence of the job, is both outdated and unhealthy. Luckily, this harmful mindset is being challenged by growing awareness and recent legal changes which highlight how important the use of hearing protection is.
Rethinking hearing safety in loud work conditions
Musicians aren’t the only professionals exposed to high noise levels. Similar risks can be found in industries like construction and manufacturing. However, the music industry has been a lot slower and more resistant to using ear protection. There are several reasons for this:
- Hazard Awareness: In construction and manufacturing, the range of hazards, like heavy machinery and falling objects, warrants the use of safety gear like hard hats and ear protection. Protective equipment is a common expectation that is well-incorporated into the work culture as a result.
- Performance Concerns: Musicians tend to shun ear protection devices because they’re worried that their sense of hearing will be muted. There’s a widespread misconception that earplugs or earmuffs might interfere with sound quality or performance, despite evidence to the contrary. Outdated information is normally at the root of this misconception.
- Cultural Norms: The arts typically cultivate an environment where professionals feel lucky just to have a job, prompting them to accept suboptimal conditions without protest. Many people in the music industry feel like raising concerns could put their careers at risk so they keep their potential worries about inadequate hearing protection to themselves.
It isn’t only the musicians who face this “just part of the job” mentality, it also includes road crews, sound engineers, and event staff, whose hearing is also at risk. This collective complacency has historically resulted in a significant number of individuals experiencing hearing-related problems.
Mindsets are changing due to legal precedents
Important legal cases have begun to change industry attitudes toward hearing protection. A landmark case concerning the Royal Opera House in London showcased this shift. A viola player, exposed to dangerously high noise levels from the brass section during a performance, suffered extreme hearing damage and tinnitus due to a lack of sufficient protection. The viola player won the case and the court’s ruling stated that the music industry has to follow workplace safety guidelines, and that includes hearing protection.
Every profession that is overly loud, including the music industry, needs to have safety standards in place that require hearing protection, and this ruling is an essential reminder of that. It also signals a turning point, urging industry stakeholders to focus on the health and safety of their employees and contractors.
Dealing with acoustic shock and tinnitus
It’s alarming how many music professionals suffer from some degree of hearing loss and tinnitus. Acoustic shock, a condition triggered by exposure to extremely loud noises, can result in persistent tinnitus, hyperacusis, and permanent hearing damage. For DJs, musicians, and their crews who are continuously exposed to loud sound this is an especially acute risk.
Luckily, modern hearing protection technologies, including specialized earplugs and earmuffs, are designed to protect hearing without diminishing sound quality.
Nurturing a culture of hearing loss preservation
Nowadays it’s all about nurturing a cultural shift in the entertainment and music industry, not about being able to find specialized hearing protection. The goal is to normalize the use of hearing protection and shift away from the outdated notion that hearing loss is an inevitable aspect of the profession. The case of the Royal Opera House underscores the need to protect people’s hearing by taking proactive measures.
The prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in the music industry should decline with the growth of awareness and proactive actions. We should never think of hearing loss as an “unavoidable part of the job”. It is essential for all professionals, regardless of their discipline, to prioritize their hearing health and advocate for necessary protections.
With this paradigm shift, professionals in the music industry can keep practicing their craft while still safeguarding their most valuable tool, their hearing.
If you are in the music industry and worried about your hearing health, call us to schedule a hearing test.
