Book Review

Hear the Music: Hearing Loss Prevention for Musicians
by Marshall Chasin, M.Sc., Reg. CASLPO, Aud(C)
(2001); 88 pages; Paperback; ISBN # 0-920445-74-8

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1: Hearing and Hearing Loss
Chapter 2: Factors affecting hearing loss
Chapter 3: Strategies to reduce music exposure
Chapter 4: Five fact sheets for musicians
Chapter 5: Frequently asked questions.

      There is no doubt that extended exposure to high levels of sound will damage hearing. The term "Noise-Induced Hearing Loss" however can lead some medical professionals to look for this voluntary destruction of hearing only in burly construction workers. Several studies have identified children as being at risk for noise-induced hearing loss. 1,2,3 Others have identified untreated hearing loss as a significant threat to overall well being and functional health 4,5. American Family Physician published an article detailing the role of family care physicians in managing noise induced hearing loss.6

      One of the most commonly overlooked sources of potentially damaging sound pressure levels is music. Not the throbbing bass of acid rock that sets our viscera into vibration, but school concert, marching and jazz bands and well as the seemingly safe orchestra. Marshall Chasin, M.Sc., Reg. CASLPO, Aud(C) is an Audiologist and the Director of Auditory Research at the Musicians' Clinics of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. He is also the Coordinator of Research at the Canadian Hearing Society, Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto (in Linguistics) and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Ontario (School of Communication Disorders). He has distilled his years of experience in evaluating and protecting musicians from dangerous sound level into a handy and understandable book that is equally appropriate for the medical professional as it is for the middle school band student.

      Those who have met Marshall or heard him lecture, know him for his easy-going conversational style that makes learning from him enjoyable and stress-free. He has managed to translate that comfortable and comforting approach to the printed page which increases the approachability of this text.

      Available from Westone Labs (www.westone.com) for just $14.95 (USD), Hear the Music: Hearing Loss Prevention for Musicians is a "must have" for audiologists, speech-language pathologists and music teachers. I would also recommend that pediatricians and family practitioners keep a few copies in their office waiting room and loan them to patients at risk for music-induced hearing loss. Dentists and oral surgeons should share this resource with their hearing colleagues as the tools of that trade present a similar risk.

      AMPHL members know first hand the struggles of hearing loss, and should become "active duty" soldiers in the war against preventable hearing loss. Hear the Music: Hearing Loss Prevention for Musicians is a stealthy, yet powerful weapon in that battle.

References:

1, Brookhouser P, Worthington D, Kelly W. (1992). "Noise-induced hearing loss in children" The Laryngoscope, 1992/Jun.
2. Kramer M, Wood D (1992) Noise-induced hearing loss in rural schoolchildren. Scandinavian Audiology, 1982
3. Axelsson A, Jerson T, Lindberg U, Lindgren F (1981) Early noise-induced hearing loss in teenage boys. Scandinavian Audiology, 1981.
4 Untreated Hearing Loss Linked to Depression, Anxiety, Social Isolation in Seniors (May 26, 1999) - National Council on Aging
5. Crandell, C. (1998). Hearing Aids and Functional Health Status. Audiology Today10(4), 20-23
6. Dobie R (1987) Noise-induced hearing loss: the family physician's role. American Family Physician, 1987/Dec.

Reviewer:

Brad Ingrao, M.S.Ed. is an audiologist, father of a Deaf child and editor of EDEN - The Electronic Deaf Education Network - A Virtual Community for Families with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children (http://www.bradingrao.com). He is also an adjunct lecturer in audiology at Northeastern University and a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Boston Chapter of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People.

If you are interested in reviewing a book for a future issue of JAMPHL, please contact us at: jamphl@amphl.org