Diagnostic Audiology Program
Musicians' Hearing Program (MHP) Mission Statement
Of the many causes of permanent hearing loss, excessive exposure to sound is one of the most common, and most preventable. Hearing loss as a result of excessive sound is cumulative over one's lifetime, and often the behaviors that lead to hearing loss later in life begin in the teenage and pre-teenage years. Through early identification and intervention through education and appropriately fitted devices, adolescents and young adults engaged in musical endeavors can maintain better hearing than they would have otherwise.
What is a Hearing Loss Prevention Program (HLPP)?
A Hearing Loss Prevention Program (HLPP) has five elements that are known to reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
- Noise Survey
- Engineering Controls
- Audiometric Monitoring
- Education and Motivation
- Hearing Protection Devices
Each of these five elements can be applied to protect against hearing loss for the professional musician as well as the casual music listener. However, of these five elements, Education and Motivation are known to be the most effective at preventing hearing loss. Hearing Protection Devices can be effective, but only when used in conjunction with the professional services described in the other four elements.