Safeguarding musicians’ hearing with Help Musicians new campaign

Help Musicians has launched a vital initiative to spotlight an often overlooked issue: the irreversible damage that noisy environments can cause to the hearing of musicians and those in the entertainment industry.

This new awareness campaign, in partnership with Musicians’ Hearing Services, highlights the importance of proactive hearing protection in both professional and everyday settings.

It’s a noisy job in a noisy world

The campaign highlights the critical risks posed by prolonged exposure to high noise levels, which is particularly dangerous for those working in the entertainment industry. While live performances and rehearsals may be obvious culprits, other common environments – like bustling or crowded social spaces – can also contribute to noise-induced hearing loss.

Why it matters

Noise-induced hearing loss is a silent yet permanent condition. The good news? It’s entirely preventable. By educating musicians on the cumulative effects of noise exposure and providing practical strategies, the campaign encourages the adoption of protective measures.

Harley Street Hearing’s Clinical Lead, Fiona Butterworth, emphasises:

“It’s not just the volume levels but the duration, and the duration is cumulative. It’s not like at midnight everything resets for the next day. Musicians have to take into account not just their musical exposure but what happens over the week. Day-to-day sounds, like being on a tube for example, can have an effect on a musician’s exposure.”

Proactive steps to take for hearing health

As part of the campaign, Help Musicians has shared six actionable ways to preserve hearing health, reinforcing that small changes can make a big difference. For a closer look, take a look at their campaign video below.

How we can help

Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services specialise in custom hearing protection tailored to the unique needs of performers and industry professionals. From comprehensive hearing assessments to custom-made earplugs, we help to ensure that musicians continue to create and enjoy music for years to come.

Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme

You may be eligible for the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme, created by Help Musicians, Musicians’ Hearing Services and the Musicians’ Union. The scheme is designed to give all professional musicians in the UK access to affordable hearing assessments and hearing protection.

Musicians can access the scheme for a one-off fee of £50 (£37.50 for MU/ISM members) which grants them access to an audiological assessment and ear check-up from one of our specialists in musicians hearing (value £100).

Additionally, those who join the scheme receive a set of custom-made, specialist musicians’ earplugs with colours and cords included, worth £149.

We have nationwide clinics to cater for all musicians in the UK. Click here to find out more about the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme.

If you’re interested in hearing about how we can help you, contact us online or call us on 020 7486 1053.