For professional musicians, hearing isn’t simply a sense, it’s a crucial part of their craft and livelihood. However, many musicians still think that hearing loss is just an inevitable outcome of practicing their craft. This is both an outdated and unhealthy mindset. Luckily, this detrimental mindset is being challenged by growing awareness and recent legal changes which highlight how important the use of hearing protection is.
Loud work settings and hearing safety
The music industry isn’t the only career that comes with loud settings. Similar risks can be found in fields like construction and manufacturing. However, these industries have generally been quicker to embrace protective strategies compared to the music industry. There are several reasons for this:
- Hazard Awareness: Safety equipment, like hearing protection and hard hats, is a must due to dangers like falling objects and dangerous heavy machinery. This practice is well-integrated into the work culture, making protective gear a basic expectation.
- Performance Concerns: Musicians tend to shun hearing protection devices because they’re worried that their sense of hearing will be dulled. There’s a widespread misconception that earplugs or earmuffs could hinder sound quality or performance, in spite of evidence to the contrary. This resistance is usually based on out-of-date information.
- Cultural Norms: People who make a living in the arts will typically accept work conditions that might be less than optimal because they’re just grateful to be doing what they love. This culture of acceptance includes insufficient hearing protection, with many fearing that raising concerns could jeopardize their career opportunities.
It isn’t only the musicians who encounter this “just part of the job” mindset, it also includes roadies, sound engineers, and event staff, whose hearing is also at risk. This collective complacency has historically resulted in a considerable number of people experiencing hearing-related problems.
Legal precedents and changing attitudes
Industry attitudes with regard to hearing protection are shifting as a result of several legal cases. This shift is highlighted by a groundbreaking legal case involving the Royal Opera House in London. A viola player, exposed to dangerously high noise levels from the brass section during a performance, suffered severe hearing damage and tinnitus because of a lack of adequate protection. The court’s decision in favor of the viola player underscored that the music industry must follow workplace safety guidelines, including 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 also indicates a turning point, urging industry stakeholders to focus on the health and safety of their employees and contractors.
Addressing acoustic shock and tinnitus
It’s shocking how many musicians suffer from some degree of hearing loss and tinnitus. Chronic tinnitus, irreversible hearing damage, and hyperacusis due to exposure to very loud sound is known as acoustic shock. For DJs, musicians, and their crews who are regularly exposed to loud sound this is a particularly acute risk.
Here’s the good news, musicians can now get specialized ear protection that will safeguard their hearing while still allowing them to get accurate sound fidelity.
Nurturing hearing loss prevention as a culture
The accessibility of effective hearing protection is no longer the problem; instead, it’s about fostering a cultural shift within the music and entertainment industries. The goal is to normalize the use of hearing protection and shift away from the antiquated idea that hearing loss is an unavoidable part of the profession. The case of the Royal Opera House underscores the need to safeguard people’s hearing by taking proactive measures.
As awareness grows 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”. Safeguarding their hearing health and taking the appropriate safety steps is essential for every professional no matter what their job is.
By adopting this new paradigm, musicians and industry professionals can safeguard their most valuable asset, their hearing, while continuing to succeed in their craft.
If you are in the music industry and worried about your hearing health, contact us to schedule a hearing screening.
