Hearing is an essential part of a professional musician’s livelihood and art, not only a mere sense. However, many musicians still believe that hearing loss is just an inescapable consequence of practicing their craft. This is both an antiquated and harmful frame of mind. The good thing is, recent legal developments and growing awareness are creating considerable changes, challenging this detrimental attitude and emphasizing the importance of hearing protection.
Noisy work settings and hearing safety
The music industry isn’t the only career that comes with noisy environments. Vocations in construction, manufacturing, and other loud industries also encounter similar dangers. However, these fields have typically been quicker to embrace protective strategies compared to the music industry. There are several reasons for this:
- Hazard Awareness: Safety gear, like ear protection and hard hats, is essential because of hazards like falling objects and dangerous heavy machinery. Protective gear is a common expectation that is well-incorporated into the work culture as a result.
- Performance Concerns: Musicians tend to shun hearing protection devices because they’re worried that their sense of hearing will be muted. In spite of contrary evidence, there is a prevalent misconception that earplugs will mute sound quality. This resistance is usually based on out-of-date information.
- Cultural Norms: The arts typically cultivate an environment where professionals feel fortunate just to have a job, prompting them to accept suboptimal conditions without objection. Many people in the music industry feel as if raising concerns could put their careers at risk so they keep their potential concerns about inadequate hearing protection to themselves.
It isn’t only the musicians who face this “just part of the job” mentality, it also includes roadies, sound engineers, and event staff, whose hearing is also at risk. A considerable number of individuals in the music industry have experienced hearing issues due to this collective complacency.
Mindsets are changing because of legal precedents
Industry attitudes with regard to hearing protection are changing 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 hazardously high noise levels from the brass section during a performance, suffered major hearing damage and tinnitus because of a lack of sufficient protection. The viola player won the case and the court’s ruling stated that the music industry needs to follow workplace safety standards, and that includes hearing protection.
This ruling serves as a critical reminder that no profession, including the music industry, is excused from the need for reliable hearing protection. It’s also forcing industry leaders to make the health and safety of their contractors and employees a top priority.
Dealing with acoustic shock and tinnitus
It’s shocking how many musicians suffer from some degree of hearing loss and tinnitus. Chronic tinnitus, permanent hearing damage, and hyperacusis due to exposure to extremely loud sound is known as acoustic shock. For DJs, musicians, and their crews who are continuously exposed to loud sound this is an especially acute risk.
The good news is, musicians can now get specialty hearing protection that will protect their hearing while still allowing them to get accurate sound fidelity.
Cultivating hearing loss prevention as a culture
Nowadays it’s all about creating a cultural shift in the entertainment and music industry, not about being able to get specialized hearing protection. The objective is to normalize the use of hearing protection and shift away from the antiquated idea that hearing loss is an unavoidable aspect of the profession. The case of the Royal Opera House underscores the need to safeguard people’s hearing by taking proactive steps.
As awareness increases and protective practices become standard, the incidence of tinnitus and hearing loss in the music industry should decrease. We should never think of hearing loss as an “inescapable part of the job”. It is essential for all professionals, regardless of their discipline, to prioritize their hearing health and advocate for necessary protections.
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’re in the music industry and worried about your hearing health, give us a call to schedule a hearing screening.
