"Temporary hearing loss can happen after a person has been exposed to loud music for as little as 15 minutes, and repeated exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss."

For music to cause damage, it does not have to be so loud that it hurts a person's ears, Krishnan says. The power of musical instruments is often underestimated. For example, the piccolo generates sound equivalent to a jackhammer 30 feet away, she says.

Some common symptoms musicians experience after practice or a game include muffled hearing, a plugged feeling in the ears, ear discomfort, ringing or buzzing in the ears, difficulty hearing in a noisy room, hypersensitivity to sounds or intolerance to loud sounds.

Twin Lakes High School band director Chuck Kubly agrees that young students could damage their hearing, but more than from playing a musical instrument, Kubly said there is greater likelihood from electronic gadgets.

"I don't see that a lot (hearing damage from musical instruments), or kids who wear ear protection. I think kids have more of a problem with iPods, earbuds and having the volume up way too high than they would with musical sounds," said Kubly.

An exception he said, would be with percussion instruments.

"A lot of times percussion instructors who work day in and day out with drum lines and marching bands wear ear protectors they drape around their necks and use periodically," Kubly explained.
"Snare drums, bass drums and things like that put out a lot of volume."

Twin Lakes percussionists Tyler Stradling and Sarah McIlrath, both juniors who have played since sixth grade, said they haven't experienced hearing problems as of yet.

"I don't see a need (for earplugs), but I would probably wear them if I played more often," said Stradling.

If symptoms do occur however, Krishnan recommends using earplugs during performances and practices, and that the student see an audiologist.

She also said stuffing cotton wool or tissues in ears does not reduce sounds to safe levels. Inexpensive foam earplugs work well to protect hearing, but can distort music. High-fidelity earplugs and custom musicians' earplugs are available through most audiologists.

"Unfortunately, teenagers are often not concerned about hearing damage because the effects of exposure may not show up right away," Krishnan said. "But clinicians are seeing more old ears on young bodies because of hearing damage."

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