Huey Lewis and the News has been making music for the past four decades, selling over 30 million albums worldwide. The band has never stopped touring or making music. However, Huey Lewis and the News made headlines recently when Lewis canceled their 2018 tour due to sudden hearing loss.
On the Today Show, Lewis discusses his experience: “As I walked to the stage, it sounded like a jet engine going on and I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t find pitch. It was a distorted nightmare. It’s literally noise – cacophony. Even though I can hear you talk, and can talk on the phone, I can’t sing. I can’t hear music.”
After consulting several doctors, the consensus was Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disorder that can cause vertigo, tinnitus, and progressive hearing loss. Huey Lewis joins a growing list of popular musicians, from Barbra Streisand to The Who’s Pete Townshend to AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, who have come forward to discuss their experiences with hearing loss.
Musicians and Hearing Loss
Musicians depend on their hearing in their profession. However, the exposure to high levels of sound, day in and out, takes a toll on their hearing. For example, Pete Townshend of the Who reports going deaf in one ear after The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon, blew up his drum set on stage. “I have severe hearing damage,” says Townshend. “It has manifested itself as tinnitus, ringing in the ears at frequencies that I play guitar. It hurts, it’s painful, and it’s frustrating.”
In a 2014 interview, Townshend says that he “must now take 36-hour breaks between sessions in the studio for his hearing to recover. These delays slow down his ability to produce music and express his creativity. He further laments that he helped create an industry that leaves so many of its passionate professionals deaf or close to it.”
For musicians, the ability to hear is crucial to their profession and their passion. Certainly, hearing loss will not stop the most dedicated musician, but it does seriously harm their ability to do what they love most. As Huey Lewis says on the Today Show, “I can do everything but what I love to do most.”
Understanding Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Dangerous Decibels
Though Huey Lewis’s doctors thought the cause of his hearing loss may be Meniere’s disease, the majority of musicians who experience hearing loss have noise-induced hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when individuals are exposed to high levels of sound for any period of time. The louder the decibel, the shorter the amount of time exposed will lead to permanent hearing loss.
Decibels are units of measurement of sound. Hearing specialists warn that we should not listen to sounds at 85 decibels for longer than eight hours. An average conversation clocks in at 65 decibels, while a jet engine taking off is around 120 decibels. At 120 decibels, sounds could cause immediate, permanent hearing damage. The loudest rock concert has been recorded at 129.5 decibels – according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the heavy metal band Manowar played this extremely loud show in 1994. At an average rock concert, which tends to last over an hour, the levels of music may rise to 120 decibels. At this rate, unprotected ears are subject to permanent hearing damage. For many professional musicians, the use of customized in-ear monitors provides protection against these dangerous levels of sound.
A study from 2017 in Occupational Health surveyed professional musician participants from different genres of music. In this study, 125 musicians (traditional and pop) with at least five years of professional experience received a clinical examination of their hearing abilities. Researchers found that 42% of professional musicians experienced unilateral hearing loss and 19% experienced bilateral hearing loss.
Protecting Your Hearing from Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Whether you are a fan, a professional musician, or an amateur musician, it is important to protect your hearing from dangerous levels of sound. The music industry employs more than just musicians. From the sound engineer to the bouncer at the door, everyone who works in live music venues is at risk for developing noise-induced hearing loss. Earplugs, whether generic or custom made, are crucial tools to preventing noise-induced hearing loss.
If you have noticed changes in your hearing abilities, visit us at Desert Valley Audiology. We provide comprehensive hearing health services, from hearing tests to hearing aid fittings. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.