What Musicians Need to Know About Protecting Their Ears
Imagine you lost your hearing. What would happen to your career, your ability to do what you love? At Hear SF, we help musicians in San Francisco protect the hearing their art depends on.
As a musician, your hearing is pretty important, if not essential to your enjoyment and career. Without it, you could lose what you love. Nothing beats the roar of the crowd, the throb of the bass, or guitars “turned up to 11”.
As amazing as those moments are, however, they can damage your hearing if you’re not taking steps to protect it. The tender hearing cells in your ears can suffer damage at as little as 85 dB. The average rock concert is somewhere between 90–120 dB, and even symphony orchestras run at an average of 110 dB. At that volume, hearing damage can happen in as little as two minutes if your ears are unprotected. No matter the genre, all musicians run the risk of losing their ability to hear their art.
Did You Know Hearing Loss Due to Loud Music Is Irreversible?
Hearing loss caused by exposure to loud music is called Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Once the damage to your hearing cells happens, it can’t be reversed. When testing for NIHL, we look for hearing loss concentrated around the 4 kHz mark. It’s called a 4 kHz “notch”. The tough thing about hearing loss at the 4 kHz mark is that it often happens very gradually, and you might not even notice it until it’s way too late. The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your hearing from further damage, and help restore some of the hearing that you may have already lost.
How Loud Is Too Loud for Your Ears?
85 dB
90–120 dB
110 dB
2 Minutes
4 kHz Notch
100% Preventable
How Hear SF Helps Musicians Hear
We love music as much as you do, so here’s how we help our musical friends in the San Francisco area protect their hearing:
Hearing Testing
Custom Earplugs for Musicians
Ear Protection for Swimming
Hearing Aids for Musicians
What You Need to Know About Hearing Testing
First, we test your hearing to see if any damage has already occurred, and find out what kind of music you play. This will help us understand which type of hearing protection or aids you might need. Learn more about our hearing tests.
Custom Earplugs for Musicians
If you don’t already have hearing loss and just need protection from hearing damage, we offer custom-molded musician earplugs. Traditional foam earplugs will protect your hearing, but also muffle sound in a way that blocks more high-end frequencies. They make it harder to hear the timbre of your instrument and how well you are blending with your fellow musicians.
At Hear SF, we offer custom hearing protection based on the instrument you play and what kinds of ensembles you play in. Our goal with earplugs is to block out as much of the sound that can damage your hearing as possible, while also allowing you to hear as much of the good sound as possible based on your individual needs. We use 3D ear scanning to capture a precise impression for every custom fit.
Ear Protection for Swimming
Ear plugs or custom molds protect your ears from infections, surfer’s ear and future hearing loss. There are two primary types of ear protection commonly used by swimmers: custom molds and earplugs. Custom molds, made by taking impressions of the individual’s ear canal, provide an optimal and snug fit, effectively sealing out water and preventing ear infections. They are particularly beneficial for professional swimmers and those with chronic ear problems.
On the other hand, earplugs, available in various materials and designs, offer a more affordable and versatile option. They help reduce the risk of swimmer’s ear, a painful condition caused by water trapped in the ear canal. Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a recreational swimmer, protecting your ears with these devices ensures you can enjoy the pool or open water without compromising your hearing or health.
Hearing Aids for Musicians
There are many deaf and hard-of-hearing musicians who are masters of their craft. If you are a musician who has suffered hearing loss, there are options for helping you better hear the music you love. Most hearing aids are focused on hearing speech, but with the right programming, some types of hearing aids can amplify music effectively. We have expert knowledge of how music is created, performed, and perceived to help you rediscover sounds you may have lost.
Musicians, call us today!
Call 415-319-7301 or contact us online to schedule an appointment at Hear SF today.