Hearing protection for musicians - what options are there?

Beethoven already knew: hearing is a musician's most important tool. However, excessive volume or very high volume levels over many hours of everyday life can damage hearing and lead to hearing loss. What options are there to protect your hearing in everyday life or when playing an instrument?

“I've been avoiding society for almost two years now because it's not possible for me to tell people: I'm deaf. If I had any other subject, it would be even easier; but in my field this is a terrible situation.”

Ludwig van Beethoven, June 1801, in a letter to Wegener

Why is hearing protection important for musicians?

Hearing is a musician's most important tool. However, excessive volume or very high volume levels over many hours of everyday life can damage hearing and lead to hearing loss. This loss can be irreparable and jeopardize one's musical career. That's why hearing protection is crucial to preserve your hearing while still being able to make music at a high level and enjoy the subtle nuances of music and sound.

See "How loud is music?" and 5 myths about hearing protection for musicians

Types of hearing protection for musicians

1. Foam Hearing Protection: These traditional “ear plugs” are a cost-effective option to protect your hearing. They are usually available in different levels of insulation and are designed for different situations (e.g. for air travel, for sleeping or for industrial noise). However, they are usually not good enough for active music making because they almost always dampen too much. In addition, they usually do not attenuate all frequencies equally well. This can lead to changes in the perception of timbre. Simply inserting the earplugs loosely doesn't help and, above all, doesn't offer enough protection (see "hearing protection myths"). However, if no other hearing protection is available, foam earplugs are better than no protection.

2. Earplugs with special filter: These special earplugs (“etymotic earplugs”) are a universal solution made of rubber and are individually fitted to the ear canal customized available. Manufacturers usually offer various filters that can be installed and replaced in these earplugs. For the context of music, there are filters that attenuate as evenly as possible across all frequencies so as not to impair the timbre. Some manufacturers also allow you to choose the strength of the cushioning. This solution works and protects particularly well if it can be individually adapted to the ear canal. This requires an impression of the ear canal and the production of the individual shape, which is why the solution is not that cheap. But the universal version also comes with different sizes. The filters can therefore be reused and replaced.

3. In-Ear Monitoring Systems: These systems are often used on stages in the jazz, rock and pop sectors to monitor musicians to provide a precise listening experience. Here the protection works not only passively by blocking the ear canal, but also actively, i.e. electronically. They can be adjusted to reduce the volume of music on the ear but maintain sound quality. With this solution, however, the sound is transmitted electronically to the ear, which is why it is mostly used by musicians who play electronically amplified music anyway.

4. In-ear and over-ear headphones: Many in-ear and over-ear headphones now come with active noise cancellation ( ANC, "active noise canceling"). They are particularly helpful in noisy everyday situations, such as when traveling or on public transport. This technology can often be controlled and adjusted individually using an app and can therefore sometimes help with practice. As with all hearing protection solutions, it is important that the headphones fit tightly, otherwise some of the sound will reach the ear unhindered.

The right fit and application

No matter which option you choose, the right fit is crucial. Any type of hearing protection, whether passively attenuating or actively electronic, must fit as tightly as possible in the ear canal. Custom-made hearing protection or individually adapted earphones are often the best choice because they adapt perfectly to the ears. They therefore not only feel better, but also provide better protection: the risk of sound getting past the hearing protection into the ear canal is minimized. This is the best way to achieve uniform attenuation across all frequencies and preserve the perception of timbre.

See also 5 myths about hearing protection for musicians

Conclusion

Hearing protection is not an option for musicians and music lovers, but a necessity! It enables us to carry out our passion or our profession for as long as possible at the highest possible level and with the best possible sound quality and to perceive and enjoy all facets of music.

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Sources and further reading:

• Altenmüller, E., & Klöppel, R. (2015). The art of making music: from the physiological and psychological basics to practice. Schott Music

• Richter, B., Zander, M., Hohmann, B., & Spahn, C. (2011). Hearing protection for musicians. ENT, 59(6), 538-546.

• https://www.beethoven.li/zitate/