Musicians Hearing
        Musicians, audio engineers, and music lovers in general have specific listening needs to not just hear the music, but to connect with it emotionally. Unfortunately, many musical experiences are capable of causing wear-and-tear on the ear, permanently robbing the music lover of access to the desired emotional reaction. Hearing loss and tinnitus (phantom ringing, buzzing, or hissing noises in the ear or head) are common injuries resulting from wear-and-tear on the delicate structures of the ear. Fortunately, there is help. It is the mission of Boston Audiology Consultants and the Musicians' Hearing Program to allow musicians and music lovers to remain safe in their chosen sound, with as little impact on their musical experience as possible. Hearing injury prevention and treatment is available, and done correctly, can enhance the musician’s ability to monitor, perform, and engage. 

Visit the Contact link to book an appointment with Dr. Fligor to enroll in a
hearing loss prevention and treatment program, including being fitted for custom
hearing protection and/or custom in-ear monitors.

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Dr. Fligor is a Gold Circle audiologist in Sensaphonics audiologist network and Hearing Solutions Provider for Etymotic Research, Inc..
He is recipient of the Natalie Stukas Hearing Conservation Award (2012) and Active Advocate of the Year Award (2007) for advocating hearing loss prevention in musicians and the general public. He is adjunct professor at Salus University (Elkins Park, PA), teaching Managing the Musician’s Ear to students in the Doctor of Audiology program, GSO School of Audiology.

The image to the left is of a plaque given to Dr. Fligor by BoysLikeGirls in appreciation for audiological care before their first album.
(Click the image to see a larger view)

What makes an earplug sound good,
what makes it sound bad?

A recent study from the Netherlands showed that only about 6% of people attending a concert use earplugs? Why!? As many as 80% of concert attendees reported after the show they had temporary or permanent tinnitus (ringing, buzzing or hissing noises in the ear or head).

You go to a concert to listen to the music, that’s why… not a muddy version of the music that sounds like you are listening to it from the parking lot. If you are a musician, using earplugs can make it very hard to listen to yourself and blend with your bandmates – this compromises your performance, and could mean you lose your job. But is it worth it to lose your hearing, or get debilitating tinnitus?

Musicians Earplugs™ were first available in 1988, after the folks at Etymotic Research found lots of music-induced hearing loss in members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. These earplugs are supposed to be “flat” (that is, they bring down sound level by the same amount across the low-to-high pitches).  They can be, but only if the audiologist taking the earmold impression and the lab that makes the custom-made earplug-sleeve both do a really good job. Dr. Fligor has inherited dozens of musician patients/partners who could tell their “flat” earplugs weren’t really flat; it was due to the earplug sleeve being too short and the sound channel going through being too narrow. He also verifies every earplugs he fits with a probe-tube microphone, to ensure they are within the correct range of sound reduction across pitches.

Play this sound and adjust the noise so it’s about the same level as someone talking in a normal voice.
Once you set it, don’t change the volume control for these sound demos below:
Play these two music clips, and imagine they are as loud as they normally would be at a concert
(they are brought down to a low roar for this demonstration):
What does music sound like through foam earplugs that are stuck in as deeply as they are supposed to?
What about music through foam earplugs that are inserted shallow
(like most people do when they use earplugs)?
Do Etymotic Research High Fidelity non-custom earplugs sound better than regular foam earplugs?
Give a listen and decide: these are a fantastic alternative to foam earplugs
(but not as good a sound for critical listening)
What does a good ER-15 custom Musician’s Earplug sound like?