Do I need hearing protection?
by Ian Lyons
Protecting your hearing when being exposed to loud music is an important consideration.
The bagpipes and drums in all settings are loud enough to potentially cause damage to your hearing. More especially when played in large numbers inside small enclosed spaces.
Get a hearing test!
For most pipers and drummers there is continuous, long term exposure to music that is loud. Certainly loud enough to potentially cause hearing damage in certain settings. Get a hearing test done to measure where your hearing currently stands. A hearing test every 6 months or every 12 months after that will allow you to determine whether or not exposure to loud noises and loud music is having any affect on your hearing. Based on this evidence, you can then make decisions around your use of hearing protection.
Purchasing ear protection!
Arguably, the best and most effective hearing protection are professionally moulded musicians ear plugs. These can be quite expensive. Expect to pay $200 - $300 or even more. But the practitioners who provide these type of ear protection usually offer a full service with regular hearing tests and also professionally moulded ear plugs. The process usually consists of making an appointment to get moulds made of the insides of your ear and ear canals. The moulds are then used to make exact fitted ear plugs. The ear plugs can then be custom fitted with filters to offer the best type of protection for your pastime, whether it be a musician or any other situation where you are exposed to loud noise. The specialist will guide you on the best solution.
There are also retail purchased ear plugs that nowadays come in all shapes, sizes and configurations. Despite the claims that a lot of the companies who sell these products make, there is usually a disclaimer to any hearing damage caused whilst using them.
No products can offer an absolute guarantee that your hearing is 100% protected.
Pipers getting used to wearing ear protection!
As a piper it takes a while to get used to playing with ear protection. Pipers who use hearing protection from the early stages of their playing tend to get used to it quickly as they develop, whereas accomplished players find it more difficult. Because pipers blow our instruments quite hard and our jaw expands as we play, it can feel quite strange to have ear protection in your ears. Also the sound and pressure whilst playing the pipes is significantly changed, so it takes time getting used to it.
In a pipe band setting we need to be playing in unison and at pitch with the pipers either side, so to start with it can be difficult to lock-in. This is just a matter of practice and time to develop, hear the differences and then adjust accordingly.
If you play near the snare drummers in a pipe band circle then you are even more exposed to loud noise, especially indoors.
Look after your hearing and get your ears tested regularly!
Disclaimer:- None of the comments on this page are advice or instructions on hearing loss or ear protection. We take no responsibility for any product or hearing test. Only ever take advice from a professionally qualified and certified medical hearing practitioner.
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