All musicians are exposed to the risks of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus, also known as ringing ears. A real cure for noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus is still to be found, so we are talking about irreparable damage. The most common cause of hearing loss with musicians is long or repeated exposure to sounds over 85 decibels, which is about the level of heavy city traffic.
Many bass guitar players use rigs that are able to produce over 100 decibels. On gigs, they play with band members bringing in the same power. Amplified bands will produce around 120 decibels with peaks going up to 150 decibels.
Though high sounds are much more irritating, especially the low and loud sounds like the bass drum and our own contributions to the low end are extremely dangerous to the ears, because they carry more physical energy.
Note that exposure to 140 decibels or more may cause immediate hearing damage. A loudness chart can be found here.
Earplugs are the most effective way to protect your ears both on stage and when rehearsing. Custom molded earplugs come with filters that are able to reduce the sound level to various degrees, almost without influencing the character of the sound itself. Members of heavy electric bands should use earplugs taking off at least 25 decibels. Keep a distance of at least three yards from speaker cabinets, to prevent being struck by sound explosions when you are standing too close to them. To plug in, turn the master volume all the way down and start connecting on the instrument side. Turn this into a routine. The unnecessary sound blast coming from plugging in a connected cable will not only harm your ears and those of your band mates, but also damage your speakers.
In-ear monitoring (IME) is becoming more and more popular. If you compare the cost to what we spend on basses and amps, IME is a minor investment. IME allows you to create your personal, functional on-stage sound mix, to easily make your bass cut through. On large outdoor stages IME is indispensible.
Reduction of sound in rehearsal rooms is achieved by carpeting both floors and walls. Sound should be kept at the lowest functional level. This will also improve the general effectiveness of your rehearsal. Though drums are hard to mute, light sticks and above all a soft bass drum mallet will reduce their sound to an acceptable level. A better option may be to use IME on rehearsals also. At low cost, you can buy a jam hub to plug into directly. Also here, you easily get your personal mix. On rehearsal, headphones may be more comfortable compared to earplugs.
Even with IME, regular breaks or ‘hearing pauses’ are most important. You need them anyway to do a few stretches.
If, after exposure to very loud sound, you notice either pain or dramatic loss of hearing, see a doctor right away. Every day you wait will dramatically reduce your chances for recovery!