5 ways to protect your hearing - for musicians

Hear a ringing in your ear? That's a sign of tinnitus. At first, it may only last for a short while, making it easy to ignore. Over time, it can develop into something much more severe and permanent. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is caused by exposure to loud sounds over time, and musicians are highly susceptible to it. The good news is that there are ways to prevent this from happening! Here are 5 tips for musicians to protect your hearing, so you can enjoy music all the time.

1. Wear high-fidelity earplugs

When should you wear earplugs? A good rule of thumb is whenever you start to think, "Is this too loud?" Specifically, anything louder than 85dB can cause hearing damage with prolonged exposure. Earplugs are one of the most direct ways to protect your hearing. However, most earplugs distort the sounds you hear, making it hard to enjoy the music.

High-fidelity earplugs are different because they contain special filters that evenly reduce the sound levels of your surroundings. This way, you can still enjoy the music, just at a lower volume.

Minuendo Lossless Earplugs are passive hi-fidelity earplugs that prioritize your hearing experience. They offer the ability to adjust the attenuation level by adjusting the levers, allowing you to find your sweet spot between -7dB to -25dB. Whether you're playing in a small gig or at a metal concert, these earplugs provide comfort without compromising sound quality. Here's a tip: keep your earplugs on your keychain carrying case so you have them with you at all times.

2. Limit exposure

The second tip is to adjust your behavior to minimize exposure to loud sounds. If you use headphones frequently, listen at no more than 60% volume. At a concert, move away from the loudest sound source—the speakers—and choose a spot with reasonable sound levels. A rock music concert at its peak can produce sounds at an astonishing 150dB! When performing, avoid having your amp point directly at you; instead, position yourself behind the source of the sound.

3. Take breaks

Instead of listening to music for 2 hours straight, take a break every 30 minutes. If you're at a loud gig, step outside occasionally to let your ears rest. This simple action can make a significant difference.

4. Manage your stress to protect your hearing

Most people are aware that stress and anxiety can jeopardize overall well-being. However, high levels of stress can also trigger hearing loss. Stress puts your body into fight or flight mode, which affects your nerves and blood flow. The tiny sensory hairs in the inner ear depend on healthy blood flow to translate noise into electrical impulses for our brains. Consequently, stress affecting your circulation can contribute to tinnitus symptoms.

There are many ways to cope with stress. Exercising, seeking social support, and practicing meditation are effective methods. Ensure you take time between practice and performances to rest adequately.

5. Monitor your exposure to noise

How loud is too loud? Continuous exposure to noise levels of 85dB, equivalent to playing a violin or a busy street, is already considered unsafe. Loud sounds that cause pain to the ear typically range between 115 and 140 dB, similar to the peak of a rock concert or an ambulance siren. You can download a dB meter app to help you, or use the built-in dB meter on the Soundbrenner Core 2. This feature checks your surrounding dB levels 24/7 to ensure you are not exposing yourself to harmful sounds. The Core 2 will alert you when you're at risk of hearing damage.