Hearing is a vital part of a professional musician’s living and art, not only a mere sense. Remarkably, many musicians still operate under the impression that hearing loss is an unavoidable feature of their profession. This is both an antiquated and unhealthy mindset. Fortunately, recent legal developments and growing awareness are driving significant changes, challenging this detrimental attitude and emphasizing the necessity of hearing protection.
Rethinking hearing safety in loud work environments
The music industry isn’t the only occupation that comes with loud settings. Similar dangers can be found in sectors like construction and manufacturing. However, the music industry has been a lot slower and more resistant to making use of ear protection. A number of factors contribute to this discrepancy:
- Hazard Awareness: In construction and manufacturing, the array of hazards, such as heavy machinery and falling objects, necessitates the use of safety gear like hard hats and ear protection. Protective gear is a common expectation that is well-integrated into the work culture as a result.
- Performance Concerns: Musicians depend on their hearing to perform, often resulting in skepticism about hearing protection devices. There’s a prevailing misconception that earplugs or earmuffs could hinder sound quality or performance, despite evidence to the contrary. This resistance is usually based on outdated information.
- Cultural Norms: The arts typically cultivate an environment where professionals feel privileged just to have a job, leading them to accept suboptimal conditions without objection. Many people in the music industry feel like raising concerns could put their careers at risk so they keep their potential concerns about insufficient hearing protection to themselves.
It’s not 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 substantial number of individuals in the music industry have experienced hearing problems due to this collective complacency.
Legal precedents and changing mindsets
Important legal cases have begun to shift industry mindsets toward hearing protection. A landmark case involving the Royal Opera House in London highlighted this shift. A viola player, exposed to dangerously 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 declared that the music industry has to follow workplace safety standards, 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 a crucial reminder of that. It’s also forcing industry leaders to make the health and safety of their contractors and employees a focal point.
Dealing with acoustic shock and tinnitus
The prevalence of tinnitus and hearing loss in the music industry is shockingly high. Repeated tinnitus, irreversible hearing damage, and hyperacusis caused by 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 a particularly acute risk.
Here’s the good news, musicians can now get specialized ear 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 nurturing a cultural shift in the entertainment and music industry, not about being able to find specialized hearing protection. The primary objective is to move away from the outdated notion that hearing loss is just an inevitable part of being in the music industry and to normalize the use of protection. The case of the Royal Opera House underscores the need to safeguard people’s hearing by taking proactive steps.
The prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in the music industry should decrease with the growth of awareness and proactive actions. Hearing loss should never be considered “part of the job”. It is essential for all professionals, regardless of their field, to prioritize their hearing health and advocate for necessary protections.
By adopting this new paradigm, musicians and industry professionals can protect their most valuable tool, their hearing, while continuing to succeed in their craft.
Call us for a consultation if you are in the music industry and have concerns about the health of your hearing.