A report in Monday’s (12/10) Global Times (Xinhua, China) states, “Classical music’s reputation for being easier on the ear than its pop and rock relations has taken a knock in a New Zealand studying showing almost two thirds of orchestral musicians suffer hearing loss over the course of their careers. Massey University researcher Dr. Sargunam Sivaraj performed an extensive audiological evaluation of 183 Wellington-based orchestral musicians, testing their hearing, measuring their music exposure and studying the progression of hearing loss over time. His study found 61 percent of the adult musicians aged 27 to 66 had loss of hearing, while 22 percent of performers aged 18 to 38 suffered diminished hearing, as did 16 percent of child musicians aged 8 to 12. ‘Hearing loss is found in all groups of musicians; it is not specific to loud musical instruments or musicians with many years of music exposure,’ Sivaraj said in a statement. … He said musicians should be encouraged to start using musicians’ plugs at the beginning of their music learning because adaptability to using ear protectors was much better among the children and youth musicians. He also recommended shorter rehearsals, taking regular breaks, and avoiding rehearsals and performances on the same day.”
Posted December 10, 2012
