At some point in your life, you’ve likely heard the saying “ringing in my ears.” You may have even experienced it yourself. Tinnitus is a symptom that people have when surrounded by silence or just after going to bed. If you hear it frequently, you might need to get a hearing test.
You’ve probably heard someone say that they have a ringing in their ears when they are surrounded by silence. It can also happen just after they go to bed and before they get up in the morning. It is caused by damage to or the loss of sensory hair cells in the cochlea or the inner ear.
The brain interprets this as sound, and symptoms vary depending on what part of the ear is affected and how much damage there is. One group of people that are very likely to be affected by this are musicians.
Musicians are at risk for two very different types of hearing loss. The first is temporary hearing loss, in which a musician experiences tinnitus or hears ringing because of the high level of noise produced by their instrument.
Today, we will discuss a few simple tips to help musicians prevent this from affecting their careers and daily lives.
Use Earplugs
Earplugs are essential for the prevention of tinnitus. In addition to protecting the ears from overexposure to high-decibel noise, earplugs may also prevent hearing loss.
On major symphony orchestras, earplugs are provided to all members, unlike the old days where musicians would wear them for just a few rehearsals or performances. Tinnitus is usually temporary and does not usually become a permanent problem.
Wear Mufflers
There are a variety of mufflers available for musicians. It is a good idea to wear a muffler if you are going to be on stage or in other places where you are likely to be exposed to loud noises. The muffler helps to reduce the amount of sound that reaches the ears. The best kind is ones that cover the ears completely to minimise exposure to dust and other irritants.
Give Your Ears a Rest
For people like writers, editors, artists, and more, working in front of a computer can damage their eyes. Prolonged exposure is never good for anyone. The same goes for musicians.
Even if you are not playing in a loud environment, you should give your ears a rest every so often to prevent over-exposure to noise. If you are working on a piece of music, give yourself a break and take a short walk around during the break.
The Bottom Line
Staying healthy as a musician is very important. Tinnitus is not uncommon, so be aware of your environment, how you perform, and the instruments around you.
As loud noises surround you, you should wear earplugs or headphones to prevent the damage of tinnitus. Even if loud noises do not cover you, it is a good idea to make a habit of using earplugs or headphones to rest your ears every so often.
If you are in need of a tinnitus test or treatment, we can help you. CH Care is an independent, locally owned and operated business that specialises in hearing assessments and hearing aid fitting and maintenance. Let’s talk about your hearing today. Call us at 1800 432 748 or book an appointment online!
