Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • June 2013
20
3. Know the risk.
Once you know how loud your classroom is, learn
about safe exposure times. Most music rooms exceed
85dB. The government has guidelines in place for the
workplace. Hearing protection is mandatory if adult
workers in a factory are exposed to noise above 85dB
yet directors and students are exposed daily to volumes
that far exceed safe levels. According to the National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
damage risk criteria, the average person can be exposed
to 85dB, for 8 hours per week, 5 days per week without
undue risk of developing permanent hearing loss. The
NIOSH standard uses a 3-dB time-intensity trade-off
(also known as an “exchange rate”): for every 3dB
increase in the noise level, the allowed exposure time is
reduced by half. At 100dB, the safe exposure time is only
15 minutes before damage to your hearing can occur.
4. Check with your students.
Ask your students daily if any are experiencing
muffled sound or auditory fatigue during or after class.
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and temporary hearing
loss can occur from a single concert, sporting event
or sudden loud noise like a firecracker. In rare cases,
permanent hearing loss results from such auditory
insults. Even if a temporary
hearing loss recovers over a
period of hours or days, there
is a risk that repeated exposure
to loud noise will result in
permanent hearing loss.
5. Keep tabs on hearing.
Find an audiologist if you
don’t already have one and go for
yearly hearing checks. Encourage
your students and their parents
to do the same, especially those
going on to college to major
in performance or music education. Invite a local
audiologist to your class to give a presentation to
students, parents and administrators.
This interactive SoundRule is available online at
www.etymotic-media.com/sliderule. Students can quickly and
easily fnd out the safe exposure time of their own instrument.
Hear for a Li fet ime®