How+loud+is+loud

Unless we are fortunate enough to live and work in an environment of peaceful, natural beauty, it is likely that most of us would agree that today’s world is a much noisier place than ever before. Our hearing is constantly exposed to a chronic din at the least, and noisy workplaces the worst - some by choice, others by chance: DIY, wearing personal headphones, smoking (!), children’s toys, the sounds from the street and underground…
 * // How Loud Is Too Loud? //**
 * // By Betty Power //**

Organisations have been established to raise public awareness of the dangers of noise and noise pollution, to help young and old understand the mechanics of the ear, and what they can do to prevent premature hearing loss. In May 2005, a European-wide Awareness Campaign was launched to raise awareness of one of Europe’s most persistent workplace health problems – noise at work.

As music educators, what are we doing to safeguard our students’ hearing in the classrooms, in the practice rooms, in the concert halls? What are you doing to protect your own hearing in your working environment? We have a responsibility to learn about the long-term effect of loud music on children’s hearing, and what we can do to ensure that the musicians of tomorrow will still be able to function in the future. Schools, youth orchestras, conservatories all have a vital role to play in providing information on hearing damage and protection, which could start as early as age seven, e.g. simply by eliminating fear of hearing tests.

Protecting your hearing starts with understanding how noise works. The classic "formula" for assessing the risk of hearing loss is the intensity of the noise, measured in decibels (the danger starts at 85 decibels, roughly the sound of a lawn mower), multiplied by duration, the time of exposure. In other words, the louder the noise, the less time you should be exposed to it. Prolonged exposure to any noise above 85 decibels can cause gradual hearing loss. Some common noise levels: Whispering: below 35 dB Talking with friends: 50-60 dB Hair dryer low speed / 82 dBA Flute playing lively folk tunes / 88 dBA Underground train at 200 ft / 94 dBA Output of bagpipes / 109 dBA Music in a disco: 110-120 dB (amplified at 8 feet) Symphonic music peak, some health clubs & aerobic studios : 120 dBA Noise levels surpassing 140 dB will result in immediate and irreversible damage.
 * Did You Know That……? **
 * Students often play in environments with worse acoustics than professionals, but that the inner ear of the child is more sensitive to noise and may be susceptible to hearing loss for noise exposures that are safe for adults.
 * Noise levels when teaching are theoretically much lower than when in performance but still significant. (A peripatetic brass teacher was successful in a legal case against his local authority for hearing damage which was apparently caused by working in small practice rooms!)
 * Modern instruments are getting louder.
 * Research in audiology (hearing science) has documented a higher incidence of permanent learning loss in classical musicians than rock/pop musicians – incidence increase of 30% in rock/pop musicians and 52% in classical musicians!
 * Over 80% of musicians when tested following a performance had a temporary music induced hearing loss – damage will be permanent if exposed to loud noise too long or too often. Effects of too much noise may last for a few hours or even a few days.
 * How Loud Is Too Loud? **

Children might describe the following experiences: The professionals…. · In 2007 the Musicians Benevolent Fund in cooperation with the Association of British Orchestras began a series of training seminars for orchestral players and management dealing with the issue of noise damage in orchestras. Initiated in response to the research project 'A Sound Ear' which was commissioned by the Association of British Orchestras in 2001. This thought-provoking report tackled the issues of potential hearing damage to orchestral musicians and the training seminars go some way to offering solutions. Many orchestras world-wide are affected by laws regarding noise levels and other countries look to the ABO for guidance on the subject. (The complete report, “A Sound Ear”, is available through the Association of British Orchestras (£10) and online ABO website “Symposia”)
 * An EU directive has determined the legal limit for sound exposure is 85dB. **
 * What’s That You Say? Signs of Hearing Loss **
 * Reduced understanding of speech and accessibility to sounds
 * Tinnitus (i.e. ringing, or other perceptions of sound in the ear) that is associated with hearing loss and pitch perception problems, i.e. “A” heard as a “B”
 * Feels like you’re hearing through cotton wool
 * Difficulty understanding what people are saying
 * Ears feel like they want to “pop”
 * Hear ringing, or high whistling sound in ear
 * What Is Being Done ** to reduce the risk of hearing loss due to exposure to loud music?

· May 2005, the San Francisco Opera began providing each of its regular musicians a pair of custom-fitted "musicians' earplugs", originally created by Etymotic Research for members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This new benefit program is in conjunction with H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers, a San Francisco-based non-profit hearing preservation organisation). Hear Tomorrow seeks to educate and promote awareness of the danger to our hearing from continued exposure to loud sounds.

1) Reduce noise levels at source: raise the brass, reduce the amount of ‘noisy’ repertoire, choose lighter repertoire for smaller venues, hold sectional rehearsals whenever possible, establish the (correct) use of ear plugs and/or screens, never double rank the brass when it’s noisy repertoire, re-design pit orchestras
 * What can we do for children? **

2) In extreme situations, reduce noise levels at individual level by using hearing protection devices, e.g. ear-plugs or in-the-ear sound monitors

4) Teach children that their ears are their most important musical instrument.

5) Ensure that students receive age-appropriate hearing-health information at all stages of their development. Refer them to up-to-date websites, leading news articles to help them understand that investing in hearing health is just as important as investing in healthy eating and daily exercise! And that NOW is the most important time.

6) Enlist the advice of an accoustical consultant at your school or music organisation, to approximate the noise risks. Online factsheet available from RNID website: to find out about: · How do we hear?
 * LINKS **
 * 1) For Parents, Teachers, Adults: **
 * What are the different types of hearing loss?
 * How does noise cause hearing loss?
 * How can I tell if sounds are too loud?
 * How does noise exposure affect your hearing?
 * What can I do about noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus?
 * How do I protect myself from noise exposure at work?
 * What about noise exposure outside work?
 * How can I protect my children’s hearing?
 * What kind of equipment can protect my hearing?
 * Can I get compensation for noise damage to my hearing?
 * Where can I buy ear protectors?

This article can be found on the Cambridge Suzuki site here or on the British Kodaly Acadmey website here