What’s That Ringing?: Loud Music & Hearing Loss

Nov 5, 2014

We’ve talked a lot here about the many emotional, psychological, and physical benefits that go hand in hand with an education in music, regardless of the age of the student. But, like everything, too much of a good thing can be bad. While playing an instrument casually, for family, friends, or your own enjoyment, can help stave off hearing loss, studies have shown that professional musicians are far more likely to suffer from excessive hearing damage.

According to a new study by a German research team, professional musicians are nearly four times as likely to suffer from noise induced hearing loss than others. In what is probably the biggest study performed to date, the research team searched through the health insurance records of about 7 million people from 2004 to 2008; the results were stark. They found that working musicians were approximately 57% more likely to suffer tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears. The study found that, of the 3 million people between the ages of 16 and 66, over 22,000 were professional musicians. 284,000 hearing loss cases were logged over the time period, 238 of them from musicians. A lot of complicated math and carrying of ones later, the study reveals that paid musicians are nearly 4 times more likely to suffer from noise-induced deafness than the general population.

This really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, really. After all, “if the music is too loud, you’re too old.” And though you’re parent’s might have been right about listening to those Stones albums too loudly, their vision was a little narrow; turns out, the genre doesn’t really matter. Regardless of whether it’s a symphony orchestra in the pit, or a rock band on the stage, professionals are consistently exposed to music at sound levels loud enough to actually damage their hearing. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, hearing loss begins when you are repeatedly exposed to sounds that are more than 85 decibels. When you take into account that an orchestra can easily reach 140 decibels, and rock concerts regularly top out at 150+, you can see where this might become a problem for the musicians.

Pretty much any popular musician you can name has caused at least some damage to their hearing, or are at least well on their way towards it. Some, like Brian Wilson, had previous hearing loss unrelated to their music career, others, like Eric Clapton, can blame it all on their career. Tinnitus is the most common complaint, affecting everyone from Neil Young, to Ozzy Osbourne, to will.i.am. Some people even attribute Neil Young’s 90s acoustic phase to his hearing condition, and will.i.am has said the incessant and painful ringing he hears in moments of silence have driven him to constantly make new music at all hours of the day and night. Perhaps one of the most notable professional musicians to publicly talk about his hearing loss is Pete Townshend of The Who. Townshend suffers from partial deafness and tinnitus. At their height, The Who were playing concerts destined for the record books (London, 31 May 1976, “Loudest Concert Ever,” Guinness Book of Records), complete with pyrotechnic displays that would make the Fourth of July envious. In 1989 he funded the formation of a non-profit hearing advocacy group called H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers), a group dedicated to preventing hearing loss from loud rock music.

Classical musicians are also at risk. A Finnish study recently found that 15% of the musicians they studied suffered from permanent tinnitus, in comparison to the 2% of the general population. They also found that 41% of their musicians were affected by temporary tinnitus during groups rehearsals, and 18% during individual practice. Again, the percentage for temporary tinnitus in the general population is significantly less at 15%. The same study also found that as many as 43% of classical musicians suffer from a specific hearing condition called hyperacusis. Essentially, hyperacusis is a reduction of tolerance to volume levels most people without hearing impairment would not think is loud.

This problem even extends beyond the actual musicians; producers also have hearing problems from being in the recording booth. George Martin, who became famous as a producer for the Beatles, was widely respected in the music industry. Martin has been cited as a heavy influence on The Beatles, and had the distinction of working with many of the world’s greatest rock bands, producing hits for the likes of Elton John, and America. But in the end he paid for all the time spent in the booth when he was forced to retire because he had lost the precise ear that had made him famous.

By now you’re probably thinking to yourself, “they’re famous performers playing to huge crowds, or musicians part of a band sitting feet from big brass sections. Of course they’re damaging their hearing.” And you would be right, but think about that number from earlier. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders put the decibel level for damage at 85. 85 decibels is about what city traffic sounds like from inside your car, or the sound of a home blender. A loud gym or bar can reach that easily, so a musician playing a live music gig at a local pub is most definitely going to be consistently exceeding that. This is such a widespread problem for professional musicians that a cursory Google search turns up several support groups, advocacy organizations, and sites featuring “tips and tricks” for stemming the inevitable tide of hearing loss.

The obvious answer is hearing protection. However, while the vast majority of professional musicians say they worry about their hearing loss, very few use any kind of hearing protection. Some studies even put the number at as low as 10-15%. Special hearing protection has been made specifically for musicians, but some people say they just can’t adjust to them, or they find them uncomfortable to wear. As with the bicycle helmet, the choice comes down to safety and protection or fashion and feel.

So in the end it turns out that loud music of any genre (not just rock, Mom!) causes severe hearing impairment for those performing it on a regular, professional, basis. If you are considering a career in music, consider yourself warned! You put your hearing into your own hands. That being said, for the rest of you, the ones that just enjoy playing; have no fear. Your hearing is safe, perhaps even improved.