Band musicians should wear hi-fi earplugs

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Band musicians should wear hi-fi earplugs


The power of a marching band instrument is often underestimated, so to prevent hearing loss, a U.S. expert suggested wearing wear high-fidelity earplugs.
Three out of every four rock and jazz musicians have a hearing disorder and it's estimated that 15 percent of U.S. teenagers have permanently lost some hearing, Lata Krishnan, a Purdue University audiologist, says.
Krishnan said the piccolo generates sound that is equivalent to a jackhammer 30 feet away.
Common symptoms musicians experience after practice or a performance are muffled hearing, a plugged feeling in the ears, ear discomfort, ringing or buzzing in the ears, difficulty hearing in a noisy room, hypersensitivity to sounds or intolerance to loud sounds. If a student experiences any of those symptoms, they should consult an audiologist.
Cotton or tissues in the ears aren't effective, while inexpensive foam earplugs protect hearing, but can distort music.
However, high-fidelity earplugs and custom musicians' earplugs are available through most audiologists, Krishnan says.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International


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[Samuel]

i wish i would have had them. my hearing in my right ear isn't as good as it should be.