Hearing is an essential part of a professional musician’s living and craft, not only a mere sense. Surprisingly, many musicians still perform under the impression that hearing loss is an inevitable aspect of their profession. This is both an antiquated and harmful frame of mind. Luckily, this detrimental attitude is being challenged by growing awareness and recent legal developments which emphasize how important using hearing protection is.
Rethinking hearing safety in loud work environments
The music industry isn’t the only career that comes with noisy settings. Occupations in construction, manufacturing, and other loud industries also face similar dangers. However, the music industry has been much slower and more resistant to utilizing ear protection. Several factors contribute to this disparity:
- 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. Protective gear is a common expectation that is well-integrated into the work culture as a result.
- Performance Concerns: Musicians rely on their hearing to perform, frequently resulting in skepticism about hearing protection devices. There’s a prevailing misconception that earplugs or earmuffs may hinder sound quality or performance, despite evidence to the contrary. This resistance is usually based on outdated information.
- Cultural Norms: People who make a living in the arts will often accept work conditions that may be less than optimal because they’re just grateful to be doing what they love. Many people in the music industry feel as if raising concerns could put their careers at risk so they keep their potential worries about insufficient hearing protection to themselves.
It isn’t only the musicians who encounter this “just part of the job” mentality, it also includes road crews, sound engineers, and event staff, whose hearing is also at risk. A considerable number of people in the music industry have experienced hearing issues due to this collective complacency.
Legal precedents and changing attitudes
Important legal cases have started to change industry attitudes toward hearing protection. This shift is underlined by a groundbreaking legal case concerning the Royal Opera House in London. The brass section was creating hazardously loud conditions which caused serious hearing damage to one viola player who wasn’t provided with sufficient ear protection. The viola player won the case and the court’s ruling declared that the music industry needs to follow workplace safety guidelines, and that includes hearing protection.
Every industry 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’s also forcing industry leaders to make the health and safety of their contractors and employees a focal point.
How to deal with tinnitus and acoustic shock
It’s alarming how many musicians suffer from some level of hearing loss and tinnitus. Repeated tinnitus, irreversible hearing damage, and hyperacusis due to exposure to extremely loud sound is known as acoustic shock. The risk is especially acute for individuals frequently exposed to loud environments, such as DJs, classical musicians, rock bands, and their support crews.
Luckily, modern hearing protection technologies, including specialty earplugs and earmuffs, are designed to protect hearing without compromising sound quality.
Nurturing hearing loss prevention as a culture
The availability of effective hearing protection is no longer the problem; rather, it’s about fostering a cultural shift within the music and entertainment industries. The primary aim is to move away from the outdated idea that hearing loss is just an unavoidable part of being in the music industry and to normalize the use of protection. The Royal Opera House case has catalyzed this change, showcasing the need for proactive actions to protect hearing.
The prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in the music industry should decrease with the increase of awareness and proactive actions. We should never think of hearing loss as an “unavoidable part of the job”. Safeguarding their hearing health and taking the proper safety steps is essential for every professional regardless of what their job is.
With this paradigm shift, professionals in the music industry can keep practicing their craft while still protecting their most valuable instrument, their hearing.
If you are in the music industry and concerned about your hearing health, call us to schedule a hearing screening.
