Hearing is an essential part of a professional musician’s livelihood and art, not only a mere sense. However, many musicians still think that hearing loss is just an unavoidable result of practicing their craft. This is both an outdated and harmful mindset. The good thing is, recent legal developments and growing awareness are creating substantial changes, challenging this detrimental attitude and emphasizing the importance of hearing protection.
Loud work environments and hearing safety
The music industry isn’t the only career that comes with loud settings. Similar dangers can be found in fields like construction and manufacturing. However, these fields have generally been quicker to embrace protective strategies compared to the music industry. A number of factors contribute to this discrepancy:
- Hazard Awareness: In construction and manufacturing, the range of hazards, like heavy machinery and falling objects, warrants the use of safety gear like hard hats and ear protection. Protective equipment is a standard expectation that is well-integrated into the work culture as a result.
- Performance Concerns: Musicians depend on their hearing to perform, frequently resulting in skepticism about hearing protection devices. Despite contrary evidence, there is a prevailing misconception that earplugs will mute sound quality. This resistance is typically based on outdated information.
- Cultural Norms: The arts often foster an environment where professionals feel fortunate just to have a job, prompting them to accept suboptimal conditions without protest. 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’s not only the musicians who encounter this “just part of the job” mindset, it also includes road crews, sound engineers, and event staff, whose hearing is also at risk. This collective complacency has historically resulted in a substantial number of individuals experiencing hearing-related problems.
Legal precedents and changing attitudes
Important legal cases have started to change industry attitudes toward hearing protection. This shift is underlined by a groundbreaking legal case involving the Royal Opera House in London. A viola player, exposed to dangerously high levels of noise from the brass section during a performance, suffered severe hearing damage and tinnitus due to 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 guidelines, and that includes 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 signals a turning point, urging industry stakeholders to focus on the health and safety of their employees and contractors.
How to address tinnitus and acoustic shock
The prevalence of tinnitus and hearing loss in the music industry is shockingly high. Repeated tinnitus, permanent hearing damage, and hyperacusis caused by exposure to very loud sound is known as acoustic shock. The risk is particularly acute for those frequently exposed to loud settings, including DJs, classical musicians, rock bands, and their support crews.
Luckily, modern hearing protection technologies, including specialized earplugs and earmuffs, are designed to protect hearing without diminishing sound quality.
Cultivating hearing loss prevention as a culture
The accessibility of reliable hearing protection is no longer the issue; rather, it’s about fostering a cultural shift within the music and entertainment industries. The goal is to normalize the use of hearing protection and move away from the antiquated notion that hearing loss is an inescapable part of the profession. The Royal Opera House case has catalyzed this change, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to safeguard hearing.
The prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in the music industry should decline with the growth of awareness and proactive measures. We should never think of hearing loss as an “inevitable part of the job”. It is essential for all professionals, regardless of their field, to prioritize their hearing health and advocate for appropriate 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 concerned about your hearing health, give us a call to schedule a hearing exam.