TALKING EARS
News about Earmark Hearing Conservation and the podcast Talking Ears.
Motorcycle Riding Earplugs Review
Hearing Protection for Motorcyclists
Although Earmark primarily works with musicians, we keep our ear to the ground for all things sound and hearing related. There exists considerable interest in hearing conservation in other other circles outside of music... after all, we aren't the only ones that make a lot of noise and care about our hearing. Motorcyclists are exposed to constant high noise levels, and many have taken to earplugs to help keep their hearing safe from the road, engine, and wind noise.
Motorcyclist Online published several articles pertaining to hearing protection use over the years. Most recently, a review of the Etymotic ER•20XS earplugs was particularly helpful.
Earplug Options for the Open Road
If you're interested in discussing your hearing, hearing protection options, or obtaining custom hearing protection devices, contact Dr. Frank Wartinger for a free phone consultation.
What is Tinnitus Music?
Composing the Tinnitus Suites: 2016
The final installment of Daniel Fishkin's vibrant concert series is tonight. Daniel Fishkin, a Philadelphia-based composer and instrument inventor, is exploring the question "What is Tinnitus Music"...
Composing the Tinnitus Suites: 2016
8PM @ The Rotunda
4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
The final installment of Daniel Fishkin's vibrant concert series is tonight. Daniel Fishkin, a Philadelphia-based composer and instrument inventor, is exploring the question "What is Tinnitus Music". The answer may be elusive but the process is captivating and exciting.
In 2008, Daniel Fishkin's ears started ringing, and they never stopped. Composing the Tinnitus Suites: 2016 investigates the aesthetics of hearing damage through a performance series in the Sanctuary of the Rotunda, consisting of experimental music concerts and conversations with other thinkers who confront hearing damage in their own practice and personal lives. The series is anchored by the Lady's Harp: a system of 20-foot long piano wires activated by mixer feedback, using guitar pickups and pressure transducers to coax the strings into vibration, not unlike the cilia that transduce vibrations into electrical impulses for the brain. Fishkin says, "To make 'Tinnitus Music' is not just to compose sounds, but also to compose situations that can break the isolation of its experience."
Listen to samples of Daniel Fishkin's work
Earplug Decision 2016
Which earplugs are right for your needs?
Plug'em, an outreach program by the British Tinnitus Association, has a user-friendly guide to hearing protection selection...
Earplugs are like elections (in years other than 2016)
There are many options: foam, silicone, generic, earmuffs, custom fit, filtered, conservative, low-profile, libertarian, Russian-connected, etc...
OK, enough of that.
Which earplugs are right for your needs?
Plug'em, an outreach program by the British Tinnitus Association, has a user-friendly guide to hearing protection selection.
Why British?
Perhaps I'm drawn to them because they are British and sound more intelligent than us yankees, but this site is a well-made resource for hearing protection information. The authors even included a succinct explanation of loudness and hearing risk titled How Loud Is Loud.
Get To Know Your Ear Plug Options
Contact Dr. Wartinger and Earmark Hearing Conservation for a free phone consultation to discuss your unique situation, needs, and options.
Tinnitus and DJing
Ean Golden, the man behind the site DJTechTools.com, laid out a personal and practical account of tinnitus and, in a larger sense, what it means to have your career path altered by auditory damage...
Tinnitus: A Real Problem For Every DJ
Ean Golden, the man behind the site DJTechTools.com, laid out a personal and practical account of tinnitus and, in a larger sense, what it means to have your career path altered by auditory damage. In the article that could have been titled 'how to avoid destroying your ears while DJing', he wrote about his own tinnitus which came on at the peak of his professional DJing career.
"That fear, and the realization that DJing was making things worse, triggered me to change my lifestyle and significantly reduce noise. In the end that meant adjusting how I DJed, cutting most gigs and limiting set lengths. Having something taken away from you without choice was profoundly depressing and took a while to get over."
Although Ean wrote this article several years ago, it is impressive to see many subsequent articles he published pertaining to practical hearing protection tips.
Tinnitus is not the end
"Fortunately, it was a blessing in disguise. Instead of gigging full time, my focus turned to this site and today, I feel significantly more fulfilled helping others DJ but for many, tinnitus may mean the end of a career completely"
On a personal level, I reflect Ean's sentiment that even the worst outcome can have an upshot. The realization that my persistent tinnitus would significantly damper my budding music career, or at least hinder the enjoyment of that career, lead me to study Audiology. Now I devote the majority of my time to helping others maintain their own music careers - a cathartic and productive twist.
Message of caution
Often I find that after countless hours of wording and rewording hearing conservation messages, someone else has found a way to say the same thing more clearly and realistically than I could. Ean Golden proves this phenomenon again in his closing lines:
"Your ears can heal themselves of short term damage, but once things are really broken, they are broken for good."
http://djtechtools.com/2012/05/20/tinnitus-a-real-problem-for-every-dj/
Hearing Conservation featured prominently on Medscape.com
An Expert Commentary video featuring Dr. Wartinger was published on Medscape.com. With an intended audience of first-line medical professionals, the goal of this presentation was to concisely convey the importance of Hearing Conservation efforts in children and adolescent...
Medscape Feature
An Expert Commentary video featuring Dr. Wartinger was published on Monday, September 12, 2016 on Medscape.com. Medscape is the leading online global destination for physicians and healthcare professionals worldwide.
Hearing Conservation for Adolescents
With an intended audience of clinicians and medical professionals, the goal of this presentation was to concisely convey the importance of Hearing Conservation efforts in children and adolescent patients. Noise Induced Hearing Disorders are 100% preventable and the first step is education.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Medscape should be acknowledged for recognizing the importance of this issues, as well as for their efforts in bringing this discussion to a large and critically important audience.
Combating Adolescent Hearing Loss in an Ever-Louder World - Frank Wartinger, Au.D.
Medscape.com Expert Commentary
Monday, September 12, 2016
Posting date: Monday, September 12, 2016
Title: Combating Adolescent Hearing Loss in an Ever-Louder World
Faculty: Frank Wartinger, AuD
URL: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/868227?src=par_chop_stm_mscpedt&faf=1
Content Edit: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)'s Healthy People 2020 goals were inaccurately attributed to the World Health Organization (WHO) in this discussion. The WHO does many amazing things, but this was not one of them. For more information about the Health People 2020 goals mentioned, please visit: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/hearing-and-other-sensory-or-communication-disorders
Musicians Earplugs - Part 1: The Science Behind The Sound
“How do Musicians Earplugs actually work?”
This is one of the most common questions I answer during Hearing Conservation Consultations, so it is as good a place as any to start a blog series on Musicians Earplugs...
“How do Musicians Earplugs actually work?”
Musicians Earplugs (tm) photo credit: www.sensaphonics.com
This is one of the most common questions I answer during Hearing Conservation Consultations, so it is as good a place as any to start a blog series on Musicians Earplugs. Further installments in this series will cover the available filter levels, importance of build material, purpose an acoustic seal in the ear canal, and tips for acclimating to the use of earplugs during rehearsal, performance, and audio production work.
What are Musicians Earplugs?
Attenuation mimics the natural resonance of the open ear canal
Custom musicians earplugs are the standard professional option for reducing sound levels while maintaining the fidelity of the signal. They are custom built molds made from impressions of the individual's ears. The design allows them to mimic the natural resonance of the open ear canal, which differs from the acoustics of foam earplugs or other generic 'music earplug' options.
How do they work?
The answer is wonderfully simple, but it also speaks to the high level of quality control that is required on the part of the lab to ensure a relatively flat broad-band attenuation (sound level reduction). This is accomplished by combining a sound attenuating filter with a resonance channel that emulates the acoustic parameters of an open ear canal. The following technical information is presented by Etymotic Research, the company that developed the design and manufactures the ER-series filters:
Musicians Earplugs™ buttons have a diaphragm which functions as an acoustic compliance, while the volume of air in the sound bore of the custom earmold acts as an acoustic mass. The combination of the two produces a resonance at approximately 2700 Hz (as in the normal ear), which results in smooth, flat attenuation.
ER-9 Provides flat 9-dB sound reduction through the mid range and 15 dB in the highs
ER-15 Provides uniform 15-dB sound reduction across frequencies
ER-25 Provides 25-dB relatively flat sound reduction across frequencies
Attenuation/frequency response of ER Series Musicians Earplugs (tm) compaired with generic foam earplugs. www.etymotic.com
What do they sound like?
In the simplest terms, listening through Musicians Earplugs sounds like the original signal, but quieter; it could be said that they are the closest thing to a volume control for real-world sounds available. Dr. Brian Fligor created a clear demonstration of the sound of Musicians Earplugs by using data from in-ear sound level measurements. You can listen to these sound examples on the Boston Audiology Consultants webpage.
Though Musicians Earplugs are often marketed as "flat" or "uniform", it is important to point out that nothing is every truly flat. If you've ever worked with any sound device, electronic or acoustic, this is an accepted and understood fact. It would be more fair to describe Musicians Earplugs as "balanced" and "accurate", as they maintain the relative balance of tonal components and harmonics across a very broad spectrum. Everyone has a different perception and response, so check out the tutorials section for individual reactions.
Further reading about Musicians Earplugs
Contact Earmark Hearing Conservation to discuss whether custom earplugs are right for you and your individual situation. For more information about our services, please visit our services page.
Sound on Mars?
The inclusion of a microphone on the new Mars 2020 vehicle will be the first time we pick up the sounds of Mars directly...
It is hard to be as excited about hearing as we are and not be excited about sound in general. That is why it is with intense curiosity that we are reading about the plans to include a microphone on the Mars 2020 rover vehicle. This represents the first time we will be able to pick up the sounds of Mars directly and transmit them to Earth. As if recording the Martian soundscape isn’t reason enough, the main purpose of the microphone is to serve the SuperCam and the LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) sensor. What does the LIBS do? Glad you asked: it vaporizes rocks with a laser.
Sounds from space, or more accurately sounds derived from the sensor and radar data of space probes, have been circulating the internet for years. They are infinitely inspiring, interesting, strange, and beautiful in their own way. They are also admittedly geeky and densely scientific, so it is understandable if the general public hasn't explored them to their fullest. The great Carl Sagan was perhaps the first to recognize the potential public interest in actual Martian sounds. Sylvestre Maurice, a planetary scientist at the Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology in France, told Space.com:
"It's science, but it's a little bit different… It's cool, not obscure."
Science of Hearing Wellness
Dr. Michael Santucci, the founder and president of Sensaphonics, Inc., recently penned a concise and thoughtful review on ProSoundWeb.com discussing the science of sound, hearing, and hearing wellness for the musical community. The entire article is clear and expertly laid out, but I want to bring special attention to the last line...
Dr. Michael Santucci, the founder and president of Sensaphonics, Inc., recently penned a concise and thoughtful review for ProSoundWeb.com which discussed the science of sound, hearing, and hearing wellness for the musical community. The entire article is clear and expertly laid out, but I want to bring special attention to the last line of the article:
"There’s no reason a career in music or pro audio should cost you your hearing. We have the technology and techniques to help you keep your hearing while still enjoying the music you love!"
Hearing Damage is Not Inevitable
I hear all too often the sentiment that a loss of hearing or tinnitus is a 'badge of honor', or in some way a foregone conclusion if one leads the life of a musical professional. This couldn't be further from the truth, but we often confuse anecdotal patterns - countless reports of rockstars' careers being cut short citing auditory problems - with actual causal relationships. Dr. Santucci put it succinctly with the above except and in this article: the technology, and almost more importantly the techniques and mindset/behavior changes, are available to keep your music going for your whole life time.
Many thanks to Dr. Santucci for his words and to ProSoundWeb.com for their commitment to sharing important information on Hearing Wellness to their readers.
Link: The Science Of Hearing Wellness: The Doctor Is In
Announcement: Expanded clinical services now offered at Aberdeen Audiology
... Earmark Hearing Conservation is now offering expanded clinical services at Aberdeen Audiology. Led by Dr. Tom Goyne, Aberdeen Audiology is a premier Audiology practice located in Philadelphia’s Main Line suburbs...
It is with great excitement that we can announce that Earmark Hearing Conservation is now offering expanded clinical services at Aberdeen Audiology. Led by Dr. Tom Goyne, Aberdeen Audiology is a premier Audiology practice located in Philadelphia’s Main Line suburbs. With a unparalleled dedication to quality patient care and a motto as perfectly phrased as "live life loud and clear", Aberdeen Audiology and Earmark Hearing Conservation are an obvious match up.
Earmark's Dr. Wartinger will be offering the same clinical services as his standard mobile practice, with the addition of comprehensive diagnostic hearing testing in Aberdeen's state-of-the-art clinical facility. For appointment inquiries, please contact Earmark Hearing Conservation at EarmarkHC@gmail.com.
For location, directions, and other audiology services provided by Dr. Tom Goyne and his incredible staff at Aberdeen Audiology, please visit aberdeenaudiology.com or call 610-981-1072.
Aberdeen Audiology
230 Sugartown Road
Suite 10
Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087
Hearing Protection Myths and Recommendations: The Lowdown from Two Rock-Star Audiologists
Reverb, the gear-driven marketplace/community, may be young (started in 2013) but it is proving to be wise beyond its years. With a series of articles regarding hearing wellness...
Reverb, the gear-driven marketplace/community, may be young (started in 2013) but it is proving to be wise beyond its years. With a series of articles regarding hearing wellness, Reverb.com has shown a commitment to not only helping musicians get the gear they want/need, but also helping musicians keep the hearing they have. This emphasis reminds the reader that it isn't all about the gear, it is really all about the ear.
Army's Smart Earplug Damps Explosive Noise, But Can Enhance Whispers
NPR recently aired an accurate and well produced piece about the Army's newest efforts to address communication and hearing conservation for soldiers.
Similar technology is available for hunters, construction workers, and others in need of situational awareness as well as sound isolation from high intensity impulse sounds... but it tends to look so much cooler when paired with fatigues and worn by a guy who's name is "Sgt. Bacon".
Pearl Jam and MusiCares joining forces
Hearing Protection at Concerts
Making hearing protection at concerts a positive headline is something we can get behind. Good on you, Pearl Jam!
MusiCares is Raising Awareness
MusiCares is the charitable arm of the Grammy Foundation and the Recording Academy. Their mission statement says it all:
MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.
Read more about this exciting partnership that is bringing considerable attention to hearing wellness in the concert attendee audience.
"Stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss”
Doctors advised AC/DC singer Brian Johnson to "stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss." http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/03/acdc-frontman-brian-johnson-ordered-to-stop-touring-immediately-or-risk-total-hearing-loss/
I hope there is more to this story, for Brian Johnson's sake. Not only is AC/DC known as one of the loudest bands of all time (http://tinyurl.com/jhyfgx9), Mr. Johnson has cited race car driving as a cause for hearing damage in past interviews. Whatever may be the exact cause, musicians like Brian Johnson rely on their hearing to deliver their performances, night after night. It is a real tragedy when a performer can no longer continue due to hearing problems.