Protecting Musicians' Hearing: A Partnership in Action
A collaborative partnership between the Department of Audiology and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, overseen by Sarah Swann and Lucy Shiels, has created unique opportunities for audiology students to gain practical experience whilst supporting musicians' hearing health.
Since 2023, this initiative has grown into a comprehensive program addressing sound awareness and hearing protection in the conservatorium community. Audiology students were present at multiple orientation events designed to advocate for safe sound exposure and protection, including a student-led stall and a lecture by researcher Sarah Swann. A key highlight is the annual custom earplug fitting day. This year's session saw over 120 musicians attend one-on-one appointments where audiology students provided expert fitting of musician's plugs, funded by the Conservatorium.
Hearing protection has historically had a mixed reputation among musicians, often due to poor fit or unsuitable plug types. Expert-led fittings ensure participants develop positive protection habits from the start of their careers, with tailored insertion techniques and filter selection for individual instruments. Weekly hearing assessments conducted by audiology students have attracted over 200 participants, establishing important baseline data to monitor hearing changes throughout their careers. This is important as musicians are at-risk for hearing loss, tinnitus and sound intolerance, with early identification allowing for timely intervention.
The partnership exemplifies symbiotic learning; audiology students develop hands-on skills in hearing advocacy, protection and assessment, whilst musicians gain practical knowledge about safeguarding their hearing throughout their professional lives.
