Eric Clapton. Phil Collins. Brian Wilson.
They’re all music legends in their own right.
But that’s not the only thing they share. Their years of performing, recording, and practicing has left each of them with hearing difficulties, including tinnitus and hearing loss.
Designing hearing protection for musicians presents a unique challenge. A musician needs to be able to hear the music they’re playing but protect their hearing.
And as the experiences of Eric, Phil and Brian show us, hearing difficulties are a very real risk of pursuing your passion.
Here are our three top tips to help musicians protect their ears.
Invest in musician’s earplugs
Musician earplugs reduce sound levels evenly so that music and speech are clear and natural. As a musician, you need to protect yourself from mid to low frequencies, and that’s just what musician’s earplugs do.
They’re able to reduce noise by approximately 20 dB, without impacting on your ability to play.
At Acadian Hearing, we offer specialized earplugs for musicians that can be custom fit for your ear canal and are usually more comfortable than traditional earplugs.
Lower the volume in the studio
It can be tempting to turn up the volume when you’re recording in the studio, so you can hear how your music sounds at full blast. Do this for too long though, and you’re going to start damaging your ears.
It’s much better to save the high volumes for when you’re performing, and mix quietly in the studio, when no-one but you can hear.
Consistency is key
Consistent overexposure to loud music is what causes long-term hearing damage, therefore consistent wearing of hearing protection is absolutely essential to protecting your hearing health.
Musicians are four times more likely to suffer from hearing damage that’s 100% preventable. Don’t let it be you!
Book a consultation with an audiologist today.
