Noise induced hearing loss has plagued musicians for over centuries. Musicians being exposed to music (often at loud volumes) for extended periods, there is an ever present risk of developing noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Simply put and just for the sake of perpetuating cliches - it comes with the territory.
Today I decided to actually research on some real life experiences of musicians who developed noise induced hearing loss.
Hopefully, its going to be a blast.
Not being a classical musician myself, it was surprising to find that classical musicians too are vulnerable to noise induced hearing loss since I always associated classical music to peaceful, soothing Mozart. However, a study at Sweden’s Concert Hall and Lyric Theatre in Gothenberg revealed that 59 out of 139 orchestra musicians (42%) had hearing losses greater than that expected for their ages. Pit orchestra musicians may be at particular risk because their music is played in a confined space.
Particularly damaging are brass instruments (originally designed to produce enough volume to hurl across the battlefield), now blasting 120 decibels at the point of delivery - about the same volume as a jet taking off - at the poor viola player who sits in front.
 |
| Then |
 |
| Now |
 |
| The Contractions |
Obviously rock music, played loud and fast and soundin’ so good, also have the capacity to damage hearing. In fact, many notable rock musicians have reported noised induced hearing loss. Among such musicians is one by the name of Kathy Peck, who played bass for the all-female, punk band The Contractions in the late 70s producing high volume, fast and fun music - too loud it turned out, because after a gig opening for Duran Duran, she permanently damaged her ears, losing her hearing and also experiencing tinnitus.
She then went on the co-found H.E.A.R, Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers:
 |
| Pete Townshend: Rock induced hearing loss |
Townshend who rose to fame being the guitarist and songwriter of the English band The Who, one of the most influential bands of the 60s and 70s. He has severe hearing loss in his right ear which he attributes to the sound of his guitar and the drums and also from an explosion when Keith Moon, drummer for The Who, blew up his drum set live on stage.
 |
| The Who |
____________________________________________________
Pete Townshend on his hearing loss:
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________“I have severe hearing damage. It’s manifested itself as tinnitus, ringing in the ears at frequencies I play guitar…It hurts, it’s painful, and it’s frustrating.”
Another notable musician with hearing loss is Mick Fleetwood, the drummer for Fleetwood Mac, a successful British-American rock band in the mid-70s:
_________________________________________
“The world's worst is when you find yourself going like Mother Hubbard and cupping your hand behind your ear. I was a major glutton for volume: Gotta feel it, gotta hear it. Sooner or later you're going to pay the reaper."___________________________________________________________
Moral of the story so far: Noise induced hearing loss affects the best of us. PROTECT YOUR EARS!
Now, onward to the next part of the story: How noise induced hearing loss actually works.
____________________________________________________
p.s:
Oh yeah, for those wondering how one explodes a drum set, here's the video:
No comments:
Post a Comment