Saturday 3 March 2012

Why Do Musicians Wear Earplugs?

In the early days of rock and roll, musicians such as Neil Young, Brian Wilson or Eric Clapton probably didn’t give much consideration to the effect their work had on their hearing as they tried to make it the industry. Now, however, all three of these and many more are famously suffering from hearing loss, attributed largely to the effect of long-term exposure to loud noises such as those experienced at concerts or recording sessions.



Today, many young musicians are far more aware of the damage they can do to their hearing and are wearing specially made musicians’ ear plugs. Yes, it may not be the coolest thing to do but that ringing or buzzing you hear in your ears after a particularly loud concert can be a forerunner to permanent ear damage and it’s something you don’t want to happen to you if music is your career and your passion.

So why exactly do musician’s ear plugs help to prevent damage to your hearing? Well, unlike generic ear plugs they are specially designed to lower the volume of sound coming into your ears without actually distorting it, so it doesn’t affect your pitching or judgment. Although it costs a little more, it’s best to get them custom-made as they will then fit perfectly and be very comfortable, as well as offering you the maximum amount of protection possible.

If you are a musician, then wearing a pair of earplugs can allow you to hear your own instrument and blend with others seamlessly, which is vital for recording sessions or rehearsals. They can come with different levels of sound reduction and can last for years without the need for replacing. In addition to preventing cumulative ear damage, a good quality pair can also have other health benefits in that they will be self-cleaning and contain substances with the ability to kill dangerous and harmful bacteria such as MRSA or E.coli.

And it is not just the musicians themselves who can benefit from wearing these specially designed ear plugs. If you are a regular concert goer, work in a bar or perhaps work in other areas where you are constantly exposed to loud noise, such as construction, you should also consider buying a pair.

It can take a little time to adjust to wearing your ear plugs and getting used to the lower levels of sound, but many musicians have said that when wearing these they are actually able to hear their own instruments much more clearly and are also better able to hear the instruments of those around them.

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