MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICIANS
ARE YOUR EARS AT RISK?
Yes!
Research has shown that 12.5% of children (aged 6 to 19 years) indicate a noise-induced hearing loss in at least one ear (Niskar et al., 2001). Additionally, research shows that as the age of the child increases, there is an increase in the prevalence of a 6,000Hz noise notch (a hallmark of noise-induced hearing loss in musicians) (Haapanemi et al., 1995).
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In other words, out of a 50 member band (aged 6-19 years), 6 members will already have a noise-induced hearing loss!
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WHO IS THE LOUDEST?
It depends...
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When you are sitting in band practice, look at the instruments that are around you and then look at this table. This table shows the average volume of the instruments that you or your friends could be playing.
Who is the loudest and closest to you?
If you are playing the saxophone loudly, your ears can only handle the volume for 56 seconds before your ears are at risk for damage to occur.
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By wearing hearing protection, your ears can handle that volume much easier and for longer periods of time.
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Adapted from:
Chasin, M. (2006). Sound levels for musical instruments. Hear Review, 13 (3), p.34-41
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OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits
HOW LOUD IS TOO LOUD?
Check this out!
If any of these levels seem alarming to you, or if you read through this and said "wow my ears are exposed to a lot of loud sounds," then you should consider using hearing protection before exposure to loud sounds occurs.
For example:
If you know that you are going to a concert, make sure to pack hearing protection before going.
If you are going to a basketball game and you are in the pep band, check to make sure you have your hearing protection with you before going to the game.
WHY DOES HEARING MATTER?
You can see the significant impact that a hearing loss can have on your hearing abilities!
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As a musician, you put your ears at risk more than people who are not musicians. In order to continue to hear the same way that you do right now, you should consider using hearing protection devices.
Citations
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Haapaniemi. J. (1995). The 6kHz acoustic dip in school-aged children in Finland. European Archives of Otorhinolaryngology, 252, 391-394.
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Niskar, A.S., Kieszak, S.M., Holmes, A.E., Esteban, E., Rubin, C. & Brody, D.J. (2001). Estimated prevalence of noise-induced hearing threshold shifts among children 6 to 19 years of age: the third national health and nutrition examination survey, 1988-1994, united states. Pediatrics, 108(1).