Unlike other industries, there are no guidelines meant to protect hearing in dancers but there are steps you can take to prevent damage.
How to Protect Your Ears Against Hearing Loss
Did you know that construction workers and musicians have higher rates of noise-induced hearing loss than the rest of the general population? It’s never been a secret that constant exposure to loud noises can be harmful to your hearing but since dancers don’t really consider music to be noise, this concept is often overlooked or not even considered in the dance community.
The music that you listen to every day, the music you choreograph and dance to, might be damaging your hearing without you even noticing it. But let’s be real. It’s only logical that years of exposure to super loud music has some sort of impact. After all, it’s not uncommon to crank up the volume during dance class just so that everyone’s energy goes through the roof. The same way, it is not uncommon that we turn up the volume to our favorite song while we drive, but that habit could have serious health effects.
How Much Noise Is Too Much Noise?
A whisper is 30 decibels and a standard conversation is about 60 decibels. We are safe from harm up to 85 decibels which is how much noise a vacuum cleaner makes, and from there on we are under moderate and high levels of the danger of suffering permanent hearing loss.
Protecting Your Ears
There might be no official guidelines, but here are some things you can do to keep your ears safe:
Measure the decibels on your smartphone. There are many apps that do that. Pick one and run the test. Anything over 100 dB should be a sign of alarm.
Turn the volume down. Make sure you keep the sound between low and moderate danger levels.
Get yourself some nice earplugs. Hi-fidelity earplugs are a great option. They will minimize the decibels but you’ll still be able to hear just fine.
Give your ears a break. Let your ears recover for about 18 hours.
There’s no time to waste when it comes to protecting your health. The next time you’re in a dance class, consider these tips and do what you can to keep your hearing intact.