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Sound-induced hearing loss is painless and permanent.
Years ago I bought “Noise & Your Health,” a small booklet, out of curiosity. At the time I was performing pit jobs almost exclusively and was interested to find out more information on the topic of hearing loss.
,” a small booklet, out of curiosity. At the time I was performing pit jobs almost exclusively and was interested to find out more information on the topic of hearing loss.After reading it, my eyes were opened and I started – as annoying as they are – using earplugs on a regular basis.
As vibrations travel through the inner ear canal, they hit on tiny, very delicate hairs called cilia. Each cilia is tuned to a specific frequency of vibration, and when a specific frequency hits on its corresponding cilia, the hair bends at the root.
With loud “impulse” sounds – like a gun, a Mahler hammer blow, or crash cymbals – the hair can stay bent after the noise passes. After a few hours or days the hair usually returns to its upright position.
However, with repeated abuse the hair snaps at the root and it never grows back.
Decibels
The volume intensity of a sound is measured in decibels (db). In many ways, the decibel scale resembles a seismic scale – for every three decibels, the sound pressure doubles. In other words, 33dB is twice as loud as 30dB.
Some common measurements:
20 dB = soft whisper
70 dB = vacuum cleaner
90 dB = screaming child
100 dB = jackhammer, chainsaw
120 dB = car horn at 3 feet
140dB = gunshot
Hearing loss may occur under two different circumstances: a single, loud “impulse” sound, or long or repeated sounds at 85 dB or louder.
Some typical decibel levels for musicians to consider:
- The piccolo generates sound equivalent to a jackhammer 30 feet away.
- Orchestral music averages in the 83 to 92 dB range.
- At its peak, a symphonic fortissimo can range from 120 to 137dB.
- One trombone alone can average from 85 to 114dB.
Musical instruments then have the same potential to induce hearing damage as jackhammers and chainsaws. Musicians who fail to use hearing protection may be subjecting themselves to acoustic trauma on a regular basis.
Prolonged exposure to high volume sounds, whether music or noise, can and does result in hearing damage. Just ask any orchestral viola or cello player that sits in front of a brass section.
Part II- earplugs and resources for more information.
