Factors Influencing Use of Hearing Protection by Trumpet Players

Although a great many brass players, and trumpet players in particular, successfully use high-fidelity earplugs, others report problems with their use. This article discusses factors that may discourage a brass player from using hearing protection: These include (a) a lack of acclimatization time; (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in amplification 2012-09, Vol.16 (3), p.173-178
Main Author: Killion, Mead C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustic Stimulation
Adaptation, Psychological
Auditory Perception
Auditory Threshold
Ear Protective Devices
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - etiology
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - prevention & control
Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced - psychology
Humans
Loudness Perception
Music
Occupational Diseases - etiology
Occupational Diseases - prevention & control
Occupational Diseases - psychology
Pitch Perception
Sound Spectrography
Speech Intelligibility
Speech Perception
Time Factors
Tinnitus - etiology
Tinnitus - prevention & control
Tinnitus - psychology
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Summary:Although a great many brass players, and trumpet players in particular, successfully use high-fidelity earplugs, others report problems with their use. This article discusses factors that may discourage a brass player from using hearing protection: These include (a) a lack of acclimatization time; (b) a loss of “fortissimo blare” from the aural distortion generated by the 110- to 120-dB SPL produced at the open ear with fortissimo playing; (c) a shallow earmold seal, leading to a large occlusion effect; (d) a poor seal combined with incorrect acoustic mass in the sound channel; and (e) hearing loss where many harmonic overtones of even moderately loud playing may become inaudible with earplugs to a lifelong trumpet player with high-frequency hearing loss. The limitations imposed by each of these can usually be overcome with modifications of the hearing protection device (HPD) or with acclimatization time, allowing a lifetime of playing without the all-too-common “musicians’ hearing loss” and/or tinnitus. A review of these factors helps to delineate some of the perceptual issues that musicians may have with any change in the spectrum of their instrument—whether it is related to attenuation or amplification.
ISSN:1084-7138
1940-5588
DOI:10.1177/1084713812468514