This week, MusiCares launched their partnership with Tuned, an online hearing health company. This partnership will allow MusiCares to connect music people nationwide with credentialed audiologists for consultations via an easy-to-use, clinically validated platform.
Many of Tuned's audiologists have backgrounds in music and understand the unique impacts that come alongside hearing issues as a member of the music community. At the helm is Heather Malyuk, Tuned's Head of Audiology, who has been a provider for MusiCares for nearly a decade.
As a part of our "Provider Spotlight" series — and in honor of Protect Your Hearing Month and the new partnership — MusiCares is honored to highlight Malyuk and her incredible work helping the music community prioritize their hearing health.
How did you first become interested in the topic of hearing health and becoming an audiologist?
When I first learned about audiology, I had just started a graduate program in ethnomusicology when I had what my dad called a "come to Jesus" moment. I just had this gut feeling that I was on the wrong path and wasn't doing what I was "meant" to do with my life.
I ended up seeing an ad online for a Doctor of Audiology program and, out of curiosity, went to the local library and looked up books on audiology and hearing. I had been working as a professional fiddle and guitar player for quite some time at this point, and was blown away by what I was reading!
I had never been taught about my hearing as a music industry professional, and suddenly my gut feeling changed — I knew one of my missions in life was to help people in the industry in a hands-on way by helping care for their most valuable piece of gear: their ears. Needless to say, I became a grad school dropout and pursued audiology. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.
How does hearing health affect one's holistic health and wellbeing?
I think when individuals hear "hearing health," they assume the conversation is only about hearing loss and the geriatric population. Unfortunately, that tends to be the box that people put audiologists in. In reality, hearing health is for everyone and has an effect on all people.
While properly addressing hearing loss can decrease depression, isolation, anxiety, and perhaps even dementia, hearing loss prevention — and the proper prevention and management of hearing disorders — are an essential part of holistic wellbeing. Exposure to hazardous levels of sound without proper protection can actually increase stress, anxiety, pulse rate, blood pressure, and even stomach acid! Not to mention that, for the music industry, overdosing on sound increases the risk of music-induced hearing disorders like ringing in the ears (tinnitus), distortion (dysacusis), decreased sound tolerance (hyperacusis), and pitch perception issues (diplacusis), all of which can be career-altering or career-ending.
Research shows as high as a 74% incidence rate of these disorders in the music industry. Caring for your hearing is caring for your overall health, but for music industry professionals caring for your hearing is actually caring for your livelihood as well.
There are many misconceptions about hearing loss — to name a few, people think that hearing loss only lowers volume as opposed to sound distortion, that hearing loss comes inevitably with age, and that hearing protection lessens the quality of a listening experience. Can you debunk any of these myths? Are there any other misconceptions that you'd like to address?
Though hearing loss can have many etiologies, or causes, the most common is some form of injury to the hair cells that are housed in the inner ear, the cochlea. The primary causes of said injury are poor vascular health, genetics, diseases/viruses, some heavy and life-saving medications (like chemotherapy or IV antibiotics), and sound exposure.
While aging does not cause hearing loss in and of itself, things related to aging could play a role. We tend to see older individuals having a higher incidence rate of hearing loss simply because they've had more time for something to happen. As younger generations become more educated about their hearing, I hope that will change.
Within the music industry, there is a misconception that if someone has hearing loss, they can't work properly. That is simply not true. Many individuals in the industry are working beautifully with hearing loss. Rather, severe Music-Induced Hearing Disorders — such as sensitivity to sound, ringing/buzzing or other sounds in the ears, distortion, and pitch perception issues — tend to present barriers to working effectively. The good news is that these disorders can be prevented and, if they already exist, can be effectively managed over time via therapy with a knowledgeable audiologist.
Can you explain the difference between custom professional earplugs and universal fit earplugs? What can one expect from an audiologist appointment for either?
Custom, filtered earplugs are often referred to as "musicians' plugs," but any earplug can be a "musicians' earplug" if a musician is wearing it and it is working for them. Success with hearing protection really all comes down to "ear training" to a new frequency response. Many individuals aren't aware that ears are like snowflakes in many ways, including how the ear canal resonates. You could pull 10 music industry professionals from backstage and measure their ear canal resonance and find that they all have their own unique frequency response. In other words, their ears all reproduce sound a little differently.
There is a misconception that custom earplugs are inherently better than universal fit earplugs. That is only true if the ear impressions are taken properly, the earplugs are manufactured correctly, and the musician is wearing them effectively. Otherwise, they can be equal to, even worse than, universal-fit earplugs in terms of fit and sound quality.
It's worth noting that not all earplugs are created equally, even when custom-made. There are a variety of filters now on the market, and companies may vary in terms of the materials they use when manufacturing the custom plugs. That's why it's best to start with a consultation with a specialized music audiologist to get some guidance.
Every music industry professional should expect at least a hearing screening at an appointment for earplugs, whether custom or universal-fit. Hopefully, they will also receive a ton of education and consultation regarding their hearing, how it relates to their work, how to properly ear train to and use earplugs, and additional ways to prevent Music-Induced Hearing Disorders and hearing loss. Knowledge is power. As such, I often argue that the education is almost more important than the earplugs themselves, and this type of education comes best from a specialized music audiologist.
How can members of the music community take the first step towards prioritizing protecting their hearing?
MusiCares is making it easier than ever to get connected with music audiologists for a personalized and expert consultation. Honestly, speaking with an audiologist is truly the first step.
How can members of the music community continue to prioritize their hearing health after taking that first step?
Music industry professionals often view audiologists as people who "take the molds" and are a means to an end for a purchase of earplugs or in-ear monitors. Rather, an audiologist should be viewed as a trusted resource and someone who is seen annually for a hearing wellness checkup, especially for those who regularly use earplugs and/or in-ear monitors. After the initial visit and taking to heart the education and recommendations given, the annual care is really key.
Do you have any advice for individuals in the music community who are already experiencing hearing loss? How can we educate those impacted that it is not too late to start protecting their hearing moving forward?
There is a misconception within the music industry that somehow hearing loss is either a badge of honor or it's a death sentence but, in reality, it's neither. It's never too late to start protecting hearing, though hearing protection sometimes looks a little bit different for individuals with hearing loss and disorders of hearing.
The same thing can be said about amplifying hearing loss. Many individuals in the music industry don't realize that they don't have to stop working when there are so many tools at their disposal that can help. Each person is a unique individual with unique needs — whether protecting, amplifying, or both. That's why navigating those needs with an audiologist is so essential.
What excites you the most about the new partnership between MusiCares and Tuned?
To say I'm excited that music industry professionals are being connected with specialized audiologists for consultations and care is an understatement. All too often, we see the industry focus on gear like earplugs and in-ear monitors. With this launch, MusiCares is showing how much the care portion matters by supporting industry professionals and helping them get hearing screenings, education, and personalized consultations. This is a huge leap forward for the industry's hearing health.
Composer Richard Einhorn Highlights Hearing Loss's Impact On Mental Health