Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance

A NASM – PAMA Student Information Sheet on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

- Hearing health is essential to your lifelong success as a musician.

- Your hearing can be permanently damaged by loud sounds, including music. Technically, this is called Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Such danger is constant.

- Noise-induced hearing loss is largely preventable. You must avoid overexposure to loud sounds, especially for long periods of time.

- The closer you are to the source of a loud sound, the greater the risk of damage to your hearing mechanisms.

- Sounds over 85 dB (your typical vacuum cleaner) in intensity pose the greatest risk to your hearing.

- Risk of hearing loss is based on a combination of sound or loudness intensity and duration.

- Recommended maximum daily exposure times (NIOSH) to sounds at or above 85 dB are as follows:

- 85 dB (vacuum cleaner, MP3 player at 1/3 volume) – 8 hours

- 90 dB (blender, hair dryer) – 2 hours

- 94 dB (MP3 player at 1/2 volume) – 1 hour

- 100 dB (MP3 player at full volume, lawnmower) – 15 minutes

- 110 dB (rock concert, power tools) – 2 minutes

- 120 dB (jet planes at take-off) – without ear protection, sound damage is almost immediate

- Certain behaviors (controlling volume levels in practice and rehearsal, avoiding noisy environments, turning down the volume) reduce your risk of hearing loss.

- Be mindful of those MP3 earbuds. See chart above.

- The use of earplugs and earmuffs helps to protect your hearing health.

- Day-to-day decisions can impact your hearing health, both now and in the future.

- Since sound exposure occurs in and out of school, you also need to learn more and take care of your own hearing health on a daily basis.

- It is important to follow basic hearing health guidelines.

- It is also important to study this issue and learn more.

- If you are concerned about your personal hearing health, talk with a medical professional.

- If you are concerned about your hearing health in relationship to your program of study, consult Dr. Mark Williams.

Protecting Your Hearing Health: Student Information Sheet on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss - NASM/PAMA: November 2011, ed. Mark Williams.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has also produced a pamphlet on how to reduce the risk of hearing disorders: Reducing the Risk of Hearing Disorders among Musicians.

A NASM – PAMA Student Information Sheet

- Neuromusculoskeletal health is essential to your lifelong success as a musician.

- Practicing and performing music is physically demanding.

- Musicians are susceptible to numerous neuromusculoskeletal disorders.

- Some musculoskeletal disorders are related to behavior; others are genetic; still others are the result of trauma or injury. Some genetic conditions can increase a person's risk of developing certain behavior-related neuromusculoskeletal disorders.

- Many neuromusculoskeletal disorders and conditions are preventable and/or treatable.

- Sufficient physical and musical warm-up time is important.

- Proper body alignment and correct physical technique are essential.

- Regular breaks during practice and rehearsal are vital in order to prevent undue physical stress and strain.

- It is important to set a reasonable limit on the amount of time that you will practice in a day.

- Avoid sudden increases in practice times.

- Know your body and its limits, and avoid “overdoing it.”

- Maintain healthy habits. Safeguard your physical and mental health.

- Day-to-day decisions can impact your neuromusculoskeletal health, both now and in the future. Since muscle and joint strains and a myriad of other injuries can occur in and out of school, you also need to learn more and take care of your own neuromusculoskeletal health on a daily basis, particularly with regard to your performing medium and area of specialization.

- If you are concerned about your personal neuromusculoskeletal health, talk with a medical professional.

- If you are concerned about your neuromusculoskeletal health in relationship to your program of study, consult Dr. Mark Williams.

Protecting Your Neuromusculoskeletal Health: Student Information Sheet – NASM/PAMA, ed. Mark Williams.

An NASM – PAMA Student Information Sheet

- Vocal health is important for all musicians and essential to lifelong success for singers.

- Understanding basic care of the voice is essential for musicians who speak, sing, and rehearse or teach others.

- Practicing, rehearsing, and performing music is physically demanding.

- Musicians are susceptible to numerous vocal disorders.

- Many vocal disorders and conditions are preventable and/or treatable.

- Sufficient warm-up time is important.

- Begin warming up mid-range, and then slowly work outward to vocal pitch extremes.

- Proper alignment, adequate breath support, and correct physical technique are essential.

- Regular breaks during practice and rehearsal are vital in order to prevent undue physical or vocal stress and strain.

- It is important to set a reasonable limit on the amount of time that you will practice in a day.

- Avoid sudden increases in practice times.

- Know your voice and its limits, and avoid overdoing it or misusing it.

- Maintain healthy habits. Safeguard your physical and mental health.

- Drink plenty of water in order to keep your vocal folds adequately lubricated. Limit your use of alcohol, and avoid smoking.

- Day-to-day decisions can impact your vocal health, both now and in the future. Since vocal strain and a myriad of other injuries can occur in and out of school, you also need to learn more and take care of your own vocal health on a daily basis. Avoid shouting, screaming, or other strenuous vocal use.

- If you are concerned about your personal vocal health, talk with a medical professional.

- If you are concerned about your vocal health in relationship to your program of study, consult Dr. Mark Williams.

Protecting Your Vocal Health: Student Information Sheet – NASM/PAMA , ed. Mark Williams