Occupational Hearing Loss in Recording Engineers - What is it and how can prevent it?
Posted by Kay Stanford Jr Kastum at 5:15 AMOccupational hearing loss refers to partial or complete hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds at the job. The intensity of sound vibration is measured in units of decibels and exposure to noise above 90 decibels constantly puts you at risk of losing your hearing. This means that the sound vibration is so loud that it can cause permanent damage to your inner ear, something which is usually irreversible.
Jobs causing hearing loss
Quite a few jobs and hobbies expose you to loud sounds and these can cause noise-induced hearing loss. Ardent computer game players can often be exposed to constant music, loud explosions and other sound effects, but it's you - as a sound designer - who either creates or records these. Similarly, professional sports players that play in enclosed arenas endure crowds cheering - for example when playing indoor basketball, but it's you - as a boom operator or field sound engineer who also experiences the noise.
Musicians and recording engineers are constantly exposed to loud music or other loud sounds (for example recording sound effects for movies). For sound engineers and music makers, ears are the main tool that they use to regulate the volume and tonal qualities of the sounds which go into making music. Noise-induced hearing loss in these cases is often a result of a combination of the loudness and duration of exposure. So, even though they may not be exposed to extremely loud sounds, but exposure to moderately loud sounds constantly throughout the day, everyday, is a sure way to hearing damage. Choosing a good pair of speakers is important. Harshness at certain frequencies will cause problems. Speaker reviews will help you determine which are the best ones for you.
Live sound engineers may also suffer from occupational hearing loss. Mixing a big stadium gig is ironically often less taxing than mixing a smaller gig. For one, the equipment is better - you may rely on a spectrum analyzer to tune the PA rather than have to induce feedback before you can adjust graphic EQs
Tips to prevent hearing loss
Any partial or complete hearing loss, which is constantly getting worse, is a sure sign of occupational hearing loss. Along with the hearing loss, you may even hear a humming in your ears. Hearing a sound that is non-existent is called tinnitus.
The right thing to do here is to protect your ears, but this is difficult when your ears are finely tuned instruments that you use for your job. There are earplugs which attenuate frequencies fairly evenly, but you can't use these in a studio - they're best for live sound recording. The best strategies are to take frequent noise breaks where you don't listen to anything, to limit your exposure to really loud sounds, to avoid unnecessary audio exposure (e.g. try socializing doing quieter things), and to hum gently during loud sounds as this has the effect of attenuating your ears.
If there is hearing loss, you should consult an audiologist who can provide the right hearing aid for you. Remember that hearing loss can become total deafness. So, always listen and follow the instructions of your healthcare provider. This will ensure that any damage to your hearing does not get even worse.
Jobs causing hearing loss
Quite a few jobs and hobbies expose you to loud sounds and these can cause noise-induced hearing loss. Ardent computer game players can often be exposed to constant music, loud explosions and other sound effects, but it's you - as a sound designer - who either creates or records these. Similarly, professional sports players that play in enclosed arenas endure crowds cheering - for example when playing indoor basketball, but it's you - as a boom operator or field sound engineer who also experiences the noise.
Musicians and recording engineers are constantly exposed to loud music or other loud sounds (for example recording sound effects for movies). For sound engineers and music makers, ears are the main tool that they use to regulate the volume and tonal qualities of the sounds which go into making music. Noise-induced hearing loss in these cases is often a result of a combination of the loudness and duration of exposure. So, even though they may not be exposed to extremely loud sounds, but exposure to moderately loud sounds constantly throughout the day, everyday, is a sure way to hearing damage. Choosing a good pair of speakers is important. Harshness at certain frequencies will cause problems. Speaker reviews will help you determine which are the best ones for you.
Live sound engineers may also suffer from occupational hearing loss. Mixing a big stadium gig is ironically often less taxing than mixing a smaller gig. For one, the equipment is better - you may rely on a spectrum analyzer to tune the PA rather than have to induce feedback before you can adjust graphic EQs
Tips to prevent hearing loss
Any partial or complete hearing loss, which is constantly getting worse, is a sure sign of occupational hearing loss. Along with the hearing loss, you may even hear a humming in your ears. Hearing a sound that is non-existent is called tinnitus.
The right thing to do here is to protect your ears, but this is difficult when your ears are finely tuned instruments that you use for your job. There are earplugs which attenuate frequencies fairly evenly, but you can't use these in a studio - they're best for live sound recording. The best strategies are to take frequent noise breaks where you don't listen to anything, to limit your exposure to really loud sounds, to avoid unnecessary audio exposure (e.g. try socializing doing quieter things), and to hum gently during loud sounds as this has the effect of attenuating your ears.
If there is hearing loss, you should consult an audiologist who can provide the right hearing aid for you. Remember that hearing loss can become total deafness. So, always listen and follow the instructions of your healthcare provider. This will ensure that any damage to your hearing does not get even worse.
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You don't want to end up with a hearing aid, so choose adequate hearing protection any time you will be exposed to loud noises.