More and more musicians are speaking out publicly about their hearing loss
Sting suffers from it, as do Chris Martin and Phil Collins: Many well-known musicians have hearing problems due to high volume levels, especially at concerts. But it’s not just an increasing number of musicians who are speaking openly about it—hearing loss affects many people and is far too important an issue to be ignored.
As early as the late 1970s, he had hits like “Roxanne” and “Walking on the Moon” as a member of the band “The Police.” As a solo artist, he continues to enjoy success to this day: Sting. Yet hardly anyone knows that he is now nearly deaf, though he refused to use hearing aids for a long time. It is only since he began suffering from tinnitus that he has served as an ambassador for the “Hear the World Foundation.” “Our hearing is not only important for communication, but also for how we experience the world around us,” Sting said upon his appointment. “We receive more information through hearing than through seeing. By supporting this campaign, I want to remind people to enjoy every sound and protect their hearing.”
Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, has had tinnitus for 15 years. It caused him excruciating headaches. He now wears earplugs to keep the symptoms from getting worse. Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Pete Townshend, and Ozzy Osbourne are other musicians who suffer from hearing loss, hearing impairment, or tinnitus. For a long time, this wasn’t discussed openly, but now more and more artists are speaking out about it. Yet these symptoms are not only more common than previously thought in the pop and rock scenes. In classical music as well—especially among orchestra musicians—hearing loss is not uncommon. And even those who play in a brass band or a dance band in their free time are not immune to it.
Experience music up close with special hearing protection solutions for musicians
Simple earplugs aren’t a solution for many musicians, as they often interfere with the ability to hear precisely and monitor their own performance. But at least during initial rehearsals for new pieces, it might not be necessary to play at full volume. Depending on the instrument and musical genre, there are customized solutions to protect your hearing—ranging from volume controls on electric instruments to specialized earplugs for musicians, soundproofing devices, and headphones.
Do you play an instrument yourself or listen to music often? Even in those cases, a hearing care professional near you can advise you on the best solutions for your needs. Use our hearing care professional locator to find the right person right around the corner from you. There, you can also have a simple hearing test done to check your hearing regularly. As is often the case, early action is crucial here, since untreated hearing loss can reduce your quality of life in the long term and lead to further health complications. Avoid this and enjoy the best possible sound experience for as long as possible.
