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Rock and Roll music can cause both temporary and permanent damage to the inner ear. Damage may occur from one extremely loud session of exposure to noise or it may occur from sustained exposure to lesser noise levels. Most rock and roll musicians received their hearing damage from either amplified live music or listening to music on headphones.
Pete Townshend of The Who has been an outspoken critic on hearing loss. He attributes his own hearing loss to headphones at recording sessions. Townshend has been warning young people about Walkman and iPod use. He says, "My intuition tells me there is terrible trouble ahead." Townshend regrets his own hearing loss and wants to save others from the same self-inflicted disability. Townshend revealed, “Hearing loss is a terrible thing because it cannot be repaired.”
Here are some comparisons of noise levels and possible damage:
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Sustained exposure causing possible hearing loss - 90-95dB
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Walkman on 5/10 - 94dB
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Power mower – 107dB
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Amplifier rock, 4-6' - 120dB
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Pain begins at a level of about 125dB
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Rock music peak 150dB
Of course, Pete Townshend isn’t the only rock and roller to have hearing problems. Hearing loss is wide-spread in the industry. Kevin Shields, guitarist/singer for My Bloody Valentine, says "I did the damage to my ears listening to mixes in headphones at very loud levels without giving my ears time to recover." Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac had a similar experience, "I was a major glutton for volume: 'Gotta feel it, gotta hear it.' Sooner or later you're going to pay the reaper."
Apple Computers is listening to the problem. They are now offering volume controls on two of its new iPod models, which enable the listener to set volume maximums lower than the manufacturer.
“In a world in which hearing problems are real, concerns are mounting and lawyers are looking to make gadget providers liable, the maker of the iPod music player has created new volume controls.” -- It’ll still play the Ramones – Associated Press Article by May Wong
Sometimes change comes about by speaking out, like Pete Townshend, and sometimes change comes about by litigation. Early in 2006 a lawsuit was filed in Louisiana concerning iPod and hearing loss. Other manufacturers of listening devices are now issuing warnings and encouraging “listening responsibly.”
Because if his own hearing loss and his efforts for hearing loss prevention, Pete Townshend has been nominated to the Rock and Roll Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame. The mission of the Rock and Roll Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame is to educate music lovers in safe listening procedures.
Recommendations from the Hard of Hearing Hall of Fame: keep the volume down and give your ears a rest. If someone else can hear your listening device, your volume is too high. |
