Hearing aids are an essential part of life for many people, but for musicians, they can be a tricky combination. Musicians need to be able to hear their music clearly, but they also need to understand speech and hear the sounds around them. Unfortunately, one can sometimes complicate the other. These needs are essential for musicians to find the right hearing aids that will work well for them. In this article, we will discuss the topic of hearing aids for musicians and how to choose the right one for you.
Phil Collins and Pete Townshend are two well-known musicians who have hearing loss. Hearing loss can take a toll on daily life, particularly for musicians. As a result, the music listening experience will be very different, but the hearing aid industry will have various options for hearing aid users and hearing aids for musicians in 2023.
Hearing Protection
The harsh reality of long periods spent with musical performance or live music is the increased risk for noise damage. In recent years there has been more focus on musician’s earplugs and noise reduction to maximize music enjoyment for a lifetime. The music industry has become more aware of the effects of loud rock music daily. Certain hearing aids for musicians can help maximize the enjoyment of music despite hearing loss.
However, ear plugs can help preserve hearing so that a music enthusiast can continue to listen and appreciate music for years. Are you interested in learning more about earplugs? Read more here.
Do you need hearing protection at the shooting range? Read this.
Key Points to Look for in a Traditional Hearing Aid for Musicians
The primary purpose of hearing aids is to amplify and optimize speech for speech understanding. For this reason, a traditional hearing aid targets a specific frequency range to optimize communication. Additionally, hearing aids will try to reduce background noise. However, music encompasses a broad volume range of sounds and frequency range and has different characteristics than speech. For this reason, selecting a hearing device with a wide dynamic range is essential to capture a range of volume inputs and different frequencies. Some features to look for in a hearing device that is designed for musicians:
-The ability to handle high volumes without distortion
-A wide frequency range so that you can hear more fully capture the highs and lows of the music
-Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music and audio
-An app that allows for adjustments to tweak the sound how you like it
Consult with a hearing care professional to find the best hearing device for your needs. With the right device, you can hear your music more clearly and be aware of the sounds around you.
Hearing Aid Options
Oticon and Widex are two manufacturers that musicians enjoy wearing. Both of these companies offer technology that has a more natural sound quality. These hearing aids incorporate a full spectrum of sound and make great hearing aids for musicians.
Do you want to listen to music? Wear hearing aids with a music program. This is a program that you can access, and it disengages the typical noise reduction processing to preserve soft sounds and the lower frequency region of music that the hearing device might usually interpret as noise. Hearing aids for classical musicians need this program as much as other musicians.
A hearing aid must also be appropriate for your hearing loss and fit according to your audiogram or hearing prescription. For example, if you have mild hearing loss, ITE hearing aids will likely not provide ideal sound quality because it will occlude the ear canal and can cause a “plugged” up feeling. An important consideration when selecting the level of technology is the listening demand or the number of challenging acoustic environments you experience. A hearing device with premium technology will offer the most flexibility and likely benefit a musician’s ear.
Earlens – An Exciting New Development
One of the limitations of traditional hearing aids is the frequency range they can amplify. Traditional style hearing aids (ITE, RIC, BTE) tend to roll off in the high frequencies and cannot effectively funnel these pitches audibly to the ear. Additionally, even if these devices could create enough volume at those frequencies, they would likely generate feedback in the ear.
New technology can provide benefit with higher bandwidth and more capability for high-fidelity sound quality, making music much more enjoyable. The Earlens is a direct drive system that treats hearing loss differently than traditional hearing aids. The external piece looks like a typical behind-the-ear piece. However, the technology in the ear works quite differently and is a great option when considering hearing aids for musicians.
For musicians who’ve tried standard hearing aids and been dissatisfied, this is a great option. Earlens offers excellent solutions with hearing aids for musicians.
Realistic Expectations
Unfortunately, nothing can completely replicate the sound quality of natural acoustic hearing from your ear. Hearing aids can be helpful, and with the right type and proper settings, modern hearing aids can work relatively well for music lovers and even professional musicians. However, sensorineural hearing loss can distort the sound from the inner ear to the brain. A hearing device will not be able to overcome and compensate for a damaged auditory system.
One key point to understand is how compression in hearing technology works. For an individual with normal hearing, the brain can access and interpret a broad range of sounds. This includes pitches from low to high and volume from very soft to loud. However, once the auditory system is damaged, the brain has access to a narrower range of sound due to limitations of the inner ear acoustic mechanism. The result is that a more limited range of sound needs to be ‘compressed’ into the audible range for the individual, which varies based on the audiogram.
Another essential point to understand is that configuration of hearing loss will also influence sound quality satisfaction. For example, the cochlea, or inner ear, is organized so that higher frequencies are at the entrance of the cochlea while lower frequencies are further inside. This means that sending more volume to the lower frequency region of the cochlea will also stimulate the higher frequency region in the process. The result is that the sound quality may be less desirable for those with low-frequency hearing loss.
When choosing hearing aids for musicians, it is essential to consider the following factors:
-The type of music you play: Different types of music require different levels of hearing aid amplification. For example, if you play classical music, you need a hearing aid to amplify low-frequency sounds.
-The background noise level: Musicians often need to hear their music over the background noise level in a room. This is why choosing a hearing device that can reduce background noise is essential.
-Your budget: Hearing aids can be expensive, so consider your budget when selecting hearing techology.
-Your level of hearing loss: Some types of hearing aids are better suited for people with mild hearing loss, while others are better for people with severe hearing loss.
Musicians should consult with a hearing care professional to find the best option for your needs. With the right device, you can hear your music clearly and be aware of the sounds around you.
Do you have any questions about hearing aids for musicians? Leave a comment below.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this post on hearing aids for musicians.
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