It is a reality that professional musicians coexist daily with high noise levels (between 80 dB and 110 dB). There are several studies that show that musicians suffer more hearing loss than the rest of the population.
• 27.5% of professional musicians who participated in the study have difficulty hearing normal conversation.
• 34% of the participating musicians indicated that in the last medical examination they detected a hearing loss.
• 26% of the participating musicians indicated that they suffered from tinnitus (ailment that involves hearing a beep sound, buzzing sound with a minimum duration of five minutes, despite the fact that such sound is not present).
• 36% of the participating musicians reported having hyperacusis or high sensitivity to sound more or less frequently (they have abnormal sensitivity to noise levels or everyday noises; often also sensitivity to high sounds).
In the study it can also be seen how all these difficulties are associated with the seniority of the musician in the orchestra. Thus, it is verified that there are fewer musicians with problems among those who are less than 10 years old in an orchestra, for example, than among those who have been longer, regardless of their age.
The approach to sound control should focus, in order of preference, on:
- Reduce the sound at its source.
- Reduce the sound during its propagation to exposed people.
- Reduce exposure time.
- Use of hearing protection.
DECREASE THE SOUND IN ITS ORIGIN
- Avoid unnecessary loud sounds.
- Try to play more quietly in our rehearsals or warm-ups.
- Think about how you can decrease the level of sound emitted by each instrument, for example, with the use of sound damping of percussion instruments, use of mutes for stringed instruments or wind instruments.
- In the case of music teachers, in addition:
- Ask students to play their instruments to a lower level during lessons, where possible.
- Avoid playing alongside students to reduce overall sound levels.
- When teaching a group of students, it is advisable to avoid doing “group” practices.
REDUCE EXPOSURE TIME
- During rehearsals plan repertoires that combine more intense music with calmer music, as well as planning including activities that do not need to play the instrument.
- Instruments that emit more intense acoustic pressure should be divided into different tests.
- Plan the schedule of the musicians, have adequate rest periods in quiet areas.
USE OF HEARING PROTECTION
- Use of professional plugs, specific for musicians. It is recommended that the plugs be flat response (they reduce the intensity but not the sound quality) and with different levels of attenuation.
Focused on giving an effective response to the problem of hearing loss in musicians and in the general population, the Merida Hearing Center offers in its most recent branch in Cancun, the most complete service with the best equipment. The commitment of its professionals is to be a solid and reliable support for its clients, from start to finish.
The opening of its 5th branch at the national level represents, as its CEO, Fernando Delgado highlights, ““ a solid commitment to bringing our characteristic level of excellence not only in state-of-the-art hearing aids but also in quality of service and professional support for each of our clients ”.
“The opportunity to be present in Quintana Roo also means for us the valuable possibility of supporting more closely the fight against hearing loss in this city,” said Mr. Delgado in an interview. Aware that this is a problem that increasingly affects people from 20 to 80 years old, the latter being the most likely to suffer from it.
“At the Merida Cancun Hearing Center we are aware of how important it is for our patients to be able to communicate effectively with others, which is why we specialize in improving the quality of life of people with hearing problems through personalized attention and with the latest technology in specialized hearing aids from such prestigious brands as Siemens, Widex, Oticon, Phonak or Starkey.- He finished.
For any hearing problem, this new hearing center provides those who need it with specialized and timely attention at its new Cancun branch in PABELLON BONAMPAK square, formerly Solare square. Av. Sayil MZA 5 LOTE 2-A, Pabellón Bonampak, 6, 77500. Telephone: 9982097196.
