Hearing is a vital part of a professional musician’s livelihood and art, not just a mere sense. However, many musicians still think that hearing loss is just an inevitable outcome of practicing their craft. This mindset, which views hearing damage as an inevitable consequence of the job, is both antiquated and harmful. Luckily, this detrimental attitude is being challenged by growing awareness and recent legal changes which emphasize how important using hearing protection is.
Loud work environments and hearing safety
The music industry isn’t the only occupation that comes with noisy environments. Vocations in construction, manufacturing, and other noisy industries also encounter similar dangers. However, these industries have typically been quicker to adopt protective strategies compared to the music industry. There are a number of reasons for this:
- Hazard Awareness: Safety gear, like hearing protection and hard hats, is a must due to hazards like falling objects and dangerous heavy machinery. Protective equipment is a common expectation that is well-integrated into the work culture as a result.
- Performance Concerns: Musicians rely 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, in spite of evidence to the contrary. Outdated information is usually at the root of this misconception.
- Cultural Norms: Individuals who make a living in the arts will typically accept work conditions that might be less than optimal because they’re just grateful to be doing what they love. This culture of acceptance extends to insufficient hearing protection, with many fearing that raising concerns could jeopardize their career opportunities.
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.
Attitudes are changing as a result of legal precedents
Important legal cases have started to shift industry mindsets 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 adequate protection. The viola player won the case and the court’s ruling stated that the music industry has to follow workplace safety guidelines, and that includes hearing protection.
Every profession 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 prioritize the health and safety of their employees and contractors.
Dealing with acoustic shock and tinnitus
It’s shocking how many music professionals suffer from some degree of hearing loss and tinnitus. Chronic tinnitus, permanent hearing damage, and hyperacusis caused by exposure to very 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.
Here’s the good news, musicians can now get specialty hearing protection that will safeguard their hearing while still allowing them to get accurate sound fidelity.
Nurturing a culture of hearing loss preservation
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 main objective is to move away from the outdated belief that hearing loss is just an inescapable 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 measures.
The prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in the music industry should decrease with the increase of awareness and proactive measures. We should never think of hearing loss as an “inevitable part of the job”. Protecting their hearing health and taking the proper safety measures is crucial for every professional no matter what their job is.
With this paradigm shift, professionals in the music industry can continue to practice their craft while still protecting their most valuable tool, their hearing.
If you’re in the music industry and worried about your hearing health, call us to schedule a hearing test.