When you’re on stage, it’s important to hear yourself at your best. It’s also important to protect your hearing so you can keep playing for years to come. The days of loud amplifiers and external monitors are fading, and in-ear monitors or filtered musician’s earplugs are some of the best options to experience the whole picture while protecting yourself from harmful noise levels.
At NYHD, we understand that music is your life, livelihood, and lifestyle. We can’t wait to partner with you and help you get the best out of your performances. During a consultation with our Doctors of Audiology, we can fit you with the best in hearing technology for both on and off the stage. Music is one of the best sounds life has to offer, after all.
How Loud Noises Can Cause Hearing Loss
Our team at New York Hearing Doctors work to keep our patients hearing functional. We live in a noisy world. Loud noises like traffic, sirens, and music can cause our hearing to decline. Hearing loss…
What Are In-Ear Monitors?
In the past few decades, musicians listened to their instruments and voices through on-stage amplifiers and monitors that were extremely loud for a long list of reasons. This was understandably damaging over the lifetime of a musician. In some cases, one exposure to a blast of sound or feedback from an amplifier or monitor caused permanent hearing damage accompanied by tinnitus. Nowadays, in-ear monitors can be one of the best technologies a musician can have if they’re used correctly. They serve a few different purposes— firstly, they allow you to monitor yourself at a level that can be dialed to a safer level. Secondly, they allow you to set your mix on-stage at a similarly adjusted level so you have a complete picture to work with. Thirdly, some in-ear monitors can reduce outside sounds, which lets you set your mix at a lower level because you’re not competing with the other sounds on stage. The best part is that in-ear monitors can be custom-fitted to your ears so you’re comfortable and don’t have to constantly adjust them in your ears.
BOOK A HEARING AID CHECK TODAY!
Hearing aids remain the most effective way to treat hearing loss, and getting the most out of them requires the expertise of a knowledgeable Doctor of Audiology. Like any other device, hearing aids need ongoing maintenance and calibration to work at their best. Learn more about your hearing aid options and the comprehensive experience you can find here at NYHD.
Why In-Ear Monitors & Filtered Musician’s Earplugs Are Important
If there’s one demographic that is most likely to experience hearing loss, it’s musicians— more specifically, those who spend significant time in rehearsal or on stage. There’s even a specific type of hearing loss associated with it called noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) or music-induced hearing loss (MIHL). While most audiologists consider safe hearing levels to be around 85 decibels or less, a typical live concert clocks in at over 110 decibels. This level of noise is not safe when unprotected for the length of a typical concert, which can be around two hours or more. Musicians, because they are on-stage and closest to the noise-producing technologies, are especially at risk— even more so because repeated, regular concerts can cause damage even more quickly.
What Can I Expect at NYHD?
Along with getting you fitted for the in-ear monitors or custom hearing protection that work best for you, we can make sure your hearing is healthy and protected. During an appointment with our Doctors of Audiology, we can perform some comprehensive hearing tests to get a baseline of your hearing health so we can recommend the right options. Then, we can take an impression of your ear so that we can create a custom-fitted monitor or filtered hearing protection. This doesn’t have to be a one-time visit, though— we’re here to make sure your hearing stays healthy in the long term with regular hearing tests and monitor adjustments.
Schedule A Consultation
We love sound at NYHD, and musicians often make the most enjoyable listening experiences. We understand that it’s vital to protect your hearing health, though, so that you can keep doing what you love. During an appointment with our Doctors of Audiology, we can make sure you have everything you need to hear your art as well as anyone else. To schedule a consultation and learn about your options, contact our New York City office by filling out our online form.
