Music protection

Hearing loss is a function of 3 factors
- exposure time
- the average sound level
- and the peak level of very loud sounds.

Exposure to excessive noise from  rock concerts, marching bands, and music from a player's own instrument or nearby instruments can cause hearing loss depending on the intensity and duration of the noise. Some persons seem more susceptible to hearing loss from high-level sound than others.

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and temporary hearing loss can occur from a single concert, sporting event or sudden loud noise like a firecracker. In rare cases, permanent hearing loss results from such auditory insults. Even if a temporary hearing loss recovers over a period of hours to days, there is a risk that repeated exposure to loud noise will result in permanent hearing loss.
It is therefore important that hearing protection is carefully selected for each individual, based on the intensity level, duration, and type of noise exposure.

If you attend concerts, gigs, play music yourself, or work in a noisy musical environment (pubs, restaurants, concert halls) you should seriously consider hearing protection that are geared for music, like the ER20 Etymotic musician earplugs (also sold as Elacin ER20.)