The Problem

The problem has always been getting musicians to actually wear hearing protection. Why?

Because they learned to play their instruments without hearing protection.

In the simplest terms that is the reason. They learned to play with the ability to hear clearly. When they put in most hearing protection it sounds different, or what we call occluded, and they have to go through the learning process again.

This leads to liability for the business or educational institution who are required to make certain that hearing protection is worn. This is defined by the OSHA Field Operations Manual as a “Willful Violation.”