April 7, 2008

KIRKLAND, Wash.—Audiologists and musicians may seem like a contradicting pair, but on May 17th at 8pm, the two will unite at the Kirkland Teen Union Building to bring hearing awareness to an audience that may not be aware of the damage they are inflicting on their ears. Musicians, Portugal, The Man, Kay, Kay + His Weathered Underground, and Man Down Medic will perform at the third annual event.

Evergreen Speech & Hearing Clinic reports they are partnering with Oticon, Westone Music, and the Grammy Association, to influence a generation that is constantly exposing themselves to loud sounds. “An average concert can reach or maintain sound levels of 130dB or higher,” says Terrence Limb, AuD. “At this rate, concert attendees listening for over 30 seconds without ear protection face hearing damage. This is an alarming figure, however, the even more alarming fact is that concert venues are not regulated like every other occupational or environmental situation.”

Tickets for the event are $8, and all attendees will receive free earplugs with admission. Raffle tickets for sound reducing prizes will be sold throughout the venue to help raise money for sound equipment for the Kirkland Teen Union Building, to help ensure that it is a safe listening area.

Musicians who attend this event can enter a raffle to win custom fit musician earplugs, and a set of UM1 musician in-ear monitors donated by Westone Music, valued at approximately $110. “With over 30% of pop/rock musicians suffering from Noise Induced Hearing Loss, we want to give them the tools necessary to create their works of art, and perform to crowds without hurting the tool that benefits their art the most, their ears” Limb adds. Audiologists from Evergreen will also be on hand to take impressions and create custom molded earplugs. The clinic reports they will be selling them at cost to allow musicians and concertgoers access to these tools.

Visit www.evehear.com/bhsm for more information on this event and to learn more about Better Hearing and Speech Month.

Source: Evergreen Speech & Hearing Clinic