May 6, 2005

The "Quiet" Crisis: Hearing Loss in Musicians
Last year Jazz Tracks host Bobby Jackson attended a couple of high-energy performances. One was with Brian Auger and his Oblivion Express and the other with Billy Cobham's Culture Mix. Both performances were great but it also left Jackson with the question of how does one maintain their hearing after years of exposure to music played at loud decibels?

This week on Jazz Tracks Jackson speaks with Dr. Neil Cherian, Associate Staff in the Dept. of Neuology and Otoneurology at the Cleveland Clinic who provides great insight to this dilemma. Drummers Billy Cobham and Karma Auger tell the story of how this issue has played out in their professional lives including the results of having or not having taken steps to protect themselves. This concern also has a wider dimension when you consider people who work at airports, construction sites, rap music and even symphonic music. Selected music is provided by Billy Cobham, Brian Auger, Pat Metheny, GURU, Geoff Keezer and others.

Image courtesy of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Inc.

Dr. Neil Cherian provides us with some informational links about hearing loss:

Hospital/Health Systems

• Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF)
• House Ear Institute (HEI)
• House Ear Institute: Sound Partners
• Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI)
• Oregon Health Sciences Institute

Corporate

• Energizer Hip to Hear
• Shure Incorporated
• Shure Incorporated: Bid for Hearing
• Westone Laboratories
• Healthy Hearing: Mick Fleetwood Tells Boomers How to Keep Rockin' - Responsibly

Foundation

• American Academy of Audiology (AAA)
• American Tinnitus Association (ATA)
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): Hearing protection; Hearing Loss
• Dangerous Decibels
• H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers)
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
• Mix Foundation
• American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Inc.