ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the importance of hearing protection and how hearing loss and tinnitus will affect readers and their work. Hearing damage is a combination of volume and the duration of the exposure. There are guidelines on noise exposure and international regulations that state the amount of exposure suitable for an individual. Custom-made monitors perform a dual function: they block out unwanted noise and also act as a single in-ear headphone, so the musician may listen to a stage mix while performing. When the hearing is tested, the results are recorded on an audiogram displayed in decibel hearing level. Often the speech banana is included on the audiogram enabling the level of hearing to be related to the ability to understand speech sounds at a reasonable conversational level. An audiologist is always worth a visit to first obtain a baseline in hearing thresholds and to discuss what would be the most appropriate product to purchase.
