In a world where we are often surrounded by noise, be that in the workplace or at home listening to music, it is important we think about protecting our hearing from noise damage. A topic which is often overlooked until it is too late.
Vista Health Audiologist Victoria Waite is a keen amateur musician and explains how her hobby may be affecting her hearing.
“As a classical amateur musician and Audiologist, I am keen to protect my hearing. Playing the Saxophone in a Wind Orchestra I assume I am at less risk of noise induced hearing loss than a drummer or player of an amplified instrument. Yet when I play next to the other Saxophones, sitting in front of the brass and percussion instruments there are times when the music is so loud it physically hurts my ears. I wonder if I am damaging my hearing at every rehearsal.
How loud is too loud?
When it comes to protecting your hearing from noise damage, there are two things to consider. The loudness of the noise and the duration of the exposure. For example, a music teacher who teaches individuals or small groups for several hours a day may be at as much risk as someone who rehearses in Orchestras for shorter times a few times a week. Even individual practice can pose a significant risk. A study of music students (Phillips & Mace, 2008) showed that a session of a couple of hours of individual practice can be enough to put hearing at risk, especially for louder instruments such as brass and woodwind.
How real is the risk?
Hearing loss gets more common as we get older, so how can you tell if a musician has hearing loss due to their occupation or just a result of aging and general exposure to noise? A large-scale study in Germany (Schink, et al., 2014) looked at how many professional musicians developed noise induced hearing loss compared with non-musicians. They found that professional musicians were 3.5 times more likely to develop noise induced hearing loss than non-musicians and around 1.5 times more likely to develop tinnitus than non-musicians. Tinnitus may also develop due to noise exposure which can be severe and distressing.
What can I do to protect my hearing?
Reducing your exposure to noise is important, though it is not always that simple. When playing in the Wind Orchestra I try and keep some distance between myself and the trumpets behind, though this is not easy when space is limited. I have tried earplugs every now and again, but the music sounds muffled, unnatural and distorted, and I find it hard to hear myself playing. A better solution I have found is Specialist Musician’s earplugs. These are plugs which are custom made to fit my own ear and use specialist noise filters to let through just the right amount of sound with minimal distortion. I can hear myself and the Orchestra play, without the worry of damaging my hearing.
How do I get musicians hearing protection?
You can book an appointment to see an Audiologist with Vista Health who can carry out a free hearing consultation to determine the presence of any hearing loss. Our Audiologists can take safe deep impressions of your ears to create a custom plug which is right for you. The earplugs are then be made by the supplier and fitted with noise filters in a choice of 9dB, 15dB and 25dB reduction in sound. The 9dB filter is recommended for quieter instruments such as strings, 15dB is recommended for woodwind and brass, and 25dB is recommended for percussion and amplified instruments.
Who do I contact?
You can contact Vista Health where one of our highly trained Audiologists will carry out a free Hearing Assessment to determine your hearing care needs. We can provide custom plugs which range from £55 to £150 and can advise on a hearing solution that is suited to you.
To book, speak directly to our dedicated patient car team on 0371 454 2346 (Monday to Friday 8am-8pm / Weekends 8am-1pm). Or Complete out booking form at: https://www.vista-health.co.uk/services/hearingtest#contact-form
