As a drummer and musician, your hearing is the most important instrument you can have. Unfortunately, proper precautions are often overlooked by drummers/musicians because they think wearing earplugs is "not cool". Well, how "cool" will you be wearing a hearing aid because you never wore earplugs? Chances are, a lot of your favorite musicians suffer from hearing loss and wish that could turn back time and wear earplugs from the beginning. Hearing loss is a condition that can be easily prevented and shouldn't be over looked by any drummer, musician or concert-goer of any age.

FACTS

• 28 Million Americans have a hearing loss. 80% of those have hearing damage that is irreversible and permanent. 2 Million Americans are profoundly deaf.
• 60% of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees are hearing impaired.
• Between 1990 and 2050 the number of hearing-impaired Americans will increase at a faster rate than the total U.S. population.
• Rolled up tissue paper/cotton balls provide no protection.
• In ear monitors do not prevent hearing loss.
• More than 51 million people experience some form of Tinnitus.

HOW HEARING WORKS

The outer ear acts like a funnel to direct sound waves from the air to the tympanic membrane (eardrum). Sound causes the tympanic membrane to vibrate. These vibrations cause the three bones in the middle ear (Malleus, Incus, Stapes) to move mechanically. The middle ear sends these mechanical vibrations to the inner ear, where they are picked up by tiny hair cells (Cilia) and sent as electrical impulses along the auditory nerve to the brain.

DECIBLES

The decibel (dB) is used to measure sound level, but it is also widely used in electronics, signals and communication. The dB is a logarithmic unit used to describe a ratio. The ratio may be power, sound pressure, voltage or intensity or several other things. Each increase of 10 on the dB scale represents a tenfold increase in loudness. 20 dB is 10 times as loud as 10 dB, 30 dB is 100 times louder than 10 dB, and so on. When you notice a difference between loud sounds and quiet ones, your ears are perceiving changes in sound pressure level. Intensity (or volume) is measured in decibels (dB). Zero (0) dB is the softest sound that can be heard. Normal conversation is around 40dB to 60dB, a whisper around 30dB. A rock concert can average between 110 and 120 dB. The sound from a jet plane is approximately 140 dB. Pain from hearing is subjective. Levels below 125 dB may be painful to some individuals. At rock shows, the dB level can be as great as 140 dB in front of the speakers, but less than 120 dB at the back which is still very loud and dangerous.

WHAT IS HEARING DAMAGE?

• Exposure to loud sound such as amplified music and drums can cause hearing damage.
• Hearing damage can take the form of temporary or permanent ringing in your ears, called Tinnitus as well as short and long term loss of your ability to hear clearly (noise induced hearing loss- NIHL).
• The risk of damaging your hearing depends on:
  (1) how loud the music/drumming is
  (2) how close you are to the speakers
  (3) how long you're exposed to loud music/drumming
  (4) how long and how loud you listen to your IPODS/earphones
  (5) previous hearing damage
  (6) your condition at the time (alcohol & dehydration make things worse)
  (7) You also may be at risk if you have a family history of hearing loss.

HEARING DAMAGE WARNING SIGNS

• Ringing or buzzing in your ears; sensitivity to loud noises.
• Difficulty hearing others when there is background noise.
• People sound like they're mumbling or talking too quickly, you have to ask them to repeat themselves.
• Needing to turn the volume on the TV, Radio or IPOD higher than other people do.
• Hearing the telephone better with one ear than the other. If you have any of these symptoms, get your hearing checked by a hearing professional. To prevent further damage...WEAR EAR PLUGS.

HEARING LOSS PREVENTION

• Use earplugs when playing drums or while attending concerts. Rolled up tissue paper/cotton balls provide NO protection.
• Monitor your IPOD/earphone use by how long and how loud you listen to it
• Sound levels in dance clubs can be as high as 115 decibels, which can cause damage in seconds.
• Stay at least 10 feet away from the speakers. Being directly in front of speakers is very risky.
• Request that sound levels be turned down if too loud at band rehearsals etc.
• You can also damage someone's hearing by shouting in their ear if you are at a loud concert or dance club.
• Alcohol and drugs lower your sensitivity to pain and increase the risk of hearing damage. Remember, alcohol dehydrates your body, drink plenty of water.
• Consider custom molded earplugs if you play drums, are in a band, and/or attend concerts frequently. They are affordable and will prevent hearing loss. Buying a hearing aid because of hearing loss will be more expensive later on!!!

EARPLUGS & IN EAR MONITORS

Musician's Earplugs
Custom fit earplugs, worn by many musicians, are made from an impression of the ear canal taken by an audiologist to have a mold made. Custom earplugs are comfortable, easy to wear, and filter sound much better than disposable plugs. They include a special filter that lets the listener hear music at a safe level without sacrificing sound quality. Instead of cutting out just the high frequencies, musician's plugs lower all the frequencies evenly in relation to your hearing. People who should consider Musician's Earplugs include: musicians, sound crews, recording engineers, nightclub employees, and other music industry professionals.

Foam / Putty Earplugs If custom molded earplugs are not an option, most pharmacy stores carry foam and putty style earplugs, which do help and are very inexpensive. However you will find that things will sound "muffly" or "hollow".

In Ear Monitors In Ear Monitoring systems provide quality stereo sound by eliminating external background noise. What you hear is exactly what the music/instrument produces. They allow superior attenuation and comfort for everyday use within the music performance field. They are excellent for all musicians, audio engineers and music fans listening to iPod's, MP3 players, or a similar device. However, having the In Ear Monitor volume at a loud level can be harmful to your ears.

Some information taken by permission from H.E.A.R. The information provided by H.E.A.R. is not intended nor is implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a hearing condition.

Since their inception in 1988, H.E.A.R. has received support from some of the most respected, popular, and influential names in the music and medical industries. From performers such as Pete Townshend of The Who, Lars Ulrich of Metallica, and Les Claypool of Primus, to MTV, Guitar Player Magazine, Bass Player Magazine, MIX Magazine, The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, The American Academy of Audiology, The American Academy of Otolaryngology, NAMM, Audio Engineer Society, Consumer Electronics Association, The Recording Academy etc.