Hearing Test
...1,2,3...Is this thing on?
There is a movement in the audio industry. Artists
and engineers are taking a look at the cold hard Sound
Pressure Level (SPL) facts. Most commercial events
have loudness levels and exposure times exceeding
OSHA's limits for the workplace.
Let there be no misunderstanding. I have worked for
one of the loudest guitar players on the planet, and I
am sure we have hurt some people. After a show, a fan
came up to me and said. "I never had guitar feedback
punch me in the chest like that." Also that night,
one of Elvis Presley's original studio players was in
the house. He commented on being able to hear WELL
without his hearing aids. I was guilty of excessive
SPL's. I have changed my ways. It is time for those
of us in the Church to follow the example, and take a
look/listen at our own excessive SPL's.
There have been many bands, promoters and venue owners
sued over hearing loss. If YOU buy a ticket to
Metallica, and YOU know what the band is, what music
they play, and what they represent, then YOU (in my
book of common sense) are responsible to either not
go, or bring hearing protection. DUH! These lawsuits
may have been silly, but they are a wake-up call. We
should be as cautious about an incident like this, as
we would a "slip and fall." Both of these events can
have a BIG impact on your insurance rates, and
presence of OSHA, state and federal representatives in
your facility.
Without getting too technical, lets look at some
facts. Our hearing system can experience three types
of hearing loss: Conductive, Sensorineural, and Mixed.
Conductive hearing loss can occur if the structures
of the outer ear to middle ear do not work properly.
Conductive loss is more likely to respond to medical
and/or surgical treatment. Sensorineural loss is nerve
deafness. Sensorineural loss is more permanent.
Mixed includes both of these types. We are most
concerned with preventing nerve deafness, as it is
attributed to high SPL's and/or high SPL's for
extended exposure times. Leon has an article with an
SPL chart in it, so I won't replicate one here.
Suffice it to say, that if you are averaging 90dB or
above for the duration of the service, then you are
too loud!
A loss of up to 20dB Hearing Level (HL) is considered
"normal" hearing. A loss of 21-45dB HL is considered
"mild." People with a "mild" loss may experience
difficulty understanding a soft spoken person or
speech at a distance. Understanding speech over
background noise may be difficult. "Moderate" loss is
46-65dB HL. People with this loss have a hard time
with one on one speech in any environment. Trying to
hear over background noise is extremely difficult.
"Severe" loss, 66-85dB HL prohibits conversation,
unless the speaker is talking loudly at close range.
The last step is "profound" loss, from 86dB HL on up.
Communicating is generally used by other means, as
they cannot hear even the loudest sounds.
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This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.