Avoiding Hearing Impairments as a Musician
There are many different factors that can contribute to hearing impairments. Whether genetic or environmental, help is available from a hearing specialist for your hearing impairments. But the hearing specialists at SoundLife Hearing Technologies can also offer advice. In this blog, we’re going to look at how professional musicians, or even just those who play as a hobby, are especially vulnerable to developing hearing impairments.
We’ll also give some advice on how to help prevent them, and continue playing safely. If you’re a musician, and often find yourself in a noisy studio or at live venues, read on for some tips on how to protect your ears from damage.
Finding the Right the Equipment
Finding the right equipment doesn’t just mean finding the right instruments. You should also kit yourself and your rehearsal or recording space out with right tools. Play in a properly insulated and optimized space. A smaller space will make things louder and more harsh-sounding, which is going to damage your hearing.
Bare floors will do the same, so a carpet or a rug is going to be necessary, too. The added bonus of padded or insulated walls and carpeted floors is that it cuts down on sibilant, tinny sounding recordings. If you’re able to afford it, you also might want to invest in good in-ear monitors.
These are available from multiple manufacturers as universal-fit models or custom molded to your ears. Many of these are designed to block out the dangerous volume levels live bands are exposed to while providing an accurate sound directly into your ear so you can hear your performance. This is especially useful if you’re frequently performing live, and is well worth the initial cost.
Use Professional Ear Plugs
Even if you’re not looking for monitors, you should still consider investing in a pair of good earplugs. The foam earplugs you see for airplane rides, sleeping, and gun ranges are all fine, but there are better options. Earplugs with specially designed filters will allow you still hear — but drastically cut down on excessive sound. We’ve recommended these types of plugs for fans of live music in our blog before, but they’re great for performers, too.
Take Breaks During Sessions
It can be easy to get absorbed in a rehearsal or jam session, but taking breaks is vital to avoid hearing impairments later on. Keep your sessions reasonably short, whether you’re practicing or recording, and follow the advice above to help cut down on potential damage to your ears.
Mixing at the Right Volume
On the more technical side of things, it can be easy to end up with hearing impairments just from mixing recordings. You might be turning things up too loud to make sure you’re getting certain levels right when what you should be doing is lowering the volume, while making sure you can hear everything.
If you can’t hear a certain level at a lower volume, the balance of your mix is likely to be off. Keep the volume fairly low, especially for longer sessions, and you’ll develop a keen ear for when things sound good.
Contact Us About Hearing Impairment Help
If you’re struggling with hearing impairments and need help, contact SoundLife Hearing Technologies today. Our hearing specialists are able to assess your hearing issues and help you find the perfect hearing aids. We also offer maintenance and updates for your existing hearing aids. Get in touch today, or take a look at our range of hearing aids and services.