| Musicians Need To Take Hearing Protection Seriously | | | | Often, when bands play in concert, the music is very |
| You have probably heard of or seen movies in which | | | | loud. And, very often, the audience must shout in |
| the concert pianist takes extra care and insures his | | | | order to be heard. While it may be an overall |
| hands for an enormous amount because, without the | | | | enjoyable listening experience at the time, the noise |
| full use of them, his career would be over. We think | | | | levels coming from the speakers are most likely |
| of musicians and singers and it is obvious their hands | | | | exceeding the normal threshold of 85 decibels for |
| and/or their voices are vital to their craft. But also | | | | safe listening. When noise levels rise above 85 |
| think about the importance of their hearing. If | | | | decibels there is the very real possibility that hearing |
| someone who's profession is music has a hearing | | | | damage may occur. |
| loss, it handicaps their ability to perform at their peak. | | | | Musicians are subjected to these noise levels more |
| We don't often think about how they may need | | | | often than their audience is. It is important for them |
| musician's ear plugs to protect their hearing. | | | | to be able to hear all of the sounds during rehearsals |
| Yes, Beethoven was deaf. And, yes, Helen Keller was | | | | and performances but still take care to protect their |
| deaf, blind, and mute and could still enjoy the ballet | | | | hearing. After all, imagine the frustration of trying to |
| by feeling the vibrations of the dancers on the stage | | | | hear the notes while being constantly bothered by a |
| and the movement of the air by the orchestra. But | | | | persistent ringing in your ears? That is a condition |
| those are incredibly exceptional instances and not | | | | known as tinnitus and can be temporary or |
| something we expect to see as an everyday | | | | permanent as a result of being exposed to loud noise |
| occurrence. | | | | levels. |
| Both the average person and people who play music | | | | Musician's ear plugs are invaluable in helping to protect |
| depend heavily on their sense of hearing to fully | | | | against hearing loss. They are specially made to allow |
| function in life. All of our senses work in conjunction | | | | hearing all low, medium, and high range frequencies. |
| with each other to keep us safe and alert to our | | | | They just lower the volume to prevent damage to |
| surroundings. Musicians need their hearing to | | | | the ear. They are also available in a small discreet size |
| accurately create the melodies and rhythms in the | | | | so as to be practically undetectable on stage so you |
| way that fully depicts their compositions. When a | | | | can give a stellar performance and still live, and hear, |
| musician suffers hearing loss, they may lose the | | | | to tell about it. |
| ability to hear some of the higher frequencies. | | | | |