On the first Monday of each month, the Tipitina’s Foundation organizes free hearing tests for musicians at the NOLA Co-Op at 4040 Tulane Avenue.

Musicians are constantly exposed to intense sounds for extended periods of time, and thus risk related hearing losses, and in extreme cases, deafness.

When sounds reach a level above 90 decibels, the vibrations generated can damage ciliated cells, also known as acoustic hair cells, which enable us to hear and make sense of what others say, sing, or play. When damaged, these cells are not replaced, leading to lifelong hearing problems.

Being exposed to sound levels at a concert, which typically range between 100 and 105 dB, for more than 45 minutes can be dangerous. However, as the ear pain threshold is only reached when sounds reach 120 dB, the musician will not feel the damages instantly, leading to hearing problems that get worse over time.

If you are a musician and you are interested in scheduling a free hearing test, you can send an email to [email protected], or call (504)-708-4440.

The hearing tests are run by Dina Zeevi, a hearing instrument specialist, and are scheduled for the following Mondays:

July 7, 2014

August 4, 2014

September 8, 2014

October 6, 2014

November 3, 2014

December 1, 2014