5 Ways Musicians Can Protect Their Hearing

Whether you’re a singer in a band, play an instrument or spend a lot of time surrounded by musicians, you’ll know how important being able to hear is. Unfortunately, being a musician means you’re more at risk of hearing loss because of your exposure to loud sounds. You must protect your ears when playing or listening to music to avoid hearing loss or tinnitus (a distinct and ongoing ringing in your ears not caused by an external sound) which can become permanent without intervention. 

Did you know that many famous musicians like Chris Martin, Neil Young and Eric Clapton have admitted that they suffer from hearing loss or tinnitus? Don’t be like them! Here are five ways you can protect your hearing as a musician.

Be mindful of how loud you’re playing

When playing music, it’s good to get into the habit of checking how loud you’re playing. You can do this by purchasing a special sound meter from a music store, or there are even apps you can download to your smartphone that can instantly tell you how many decibels the sound you’re making is. Sounds at or below 70 dBA are generally considered safe but sounds at or above 85 dBA are more likely to damage your hearing over time.

Reduce your volume with equipment

Whether you have a proper music studio or are playing in the garage, you can do a few things to reduce how much noise you’re making. This includes using rugs or sound-absorbing movement blankets, baffles, or other physical barriers and amp stands to direct the sound away from your ears.

Wear your earplugs correctly

Yes, there is a wrong way to wear earplugs. You should always wear them in both ears, and well fitted - no gaps between your ears and the plugs. An easy way to make sure they fit properly is to get custom earplugs fitted by a hearing specialist. They’ll use medical-grade silicone to take custom ear impressions, which will be used to make your earplugs.

Be aware of the early signs of hearing damage

When your hearing goes, it’s gone for good, so knowing the early signs of hearing damage can help prevent complete hearing loss in the future. The signs include

• Struggling to hear people speaking even when in close proximity
• Asking people to repeat themselves often
• Struggling to hear when in a busy setting like a restaurant or shopping centre
• Needing to increase the volume or the tv or radio (and other people saying it’s too loud)
• Ringing in your ears (tinnitus) 

Getting regular hearing checks can go a long way in preventing hearing loss before it’s too late.

Protect your hearing from loud noises with earLAB

Speak to a specialist at earLAB about protecting your hearing with custom earplugs. View our wide range of hearing protection online or visit your local clinic in Richmond or Footscray today!