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Ed Yeates reportingMusicians today demonstrated some new technology that turned a rock concert into one of the "quietest" performances yet.
It's a move by icon Fleetwood Mac and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to find new ways to keep concert goers from losing their hearing.
There's the traditional way of listening to a rock concert - complete with amplified instruments and speakers - and ringing ears To this..
At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum today, Fleetwood Mac teamed up with the Eagles of Death Metal Band to give its audience a new experience. Instead of speakers and amplification, the band simulcast their live performance on stage through special FM radio headsets worn by the audience. They could hear every note - the quality - but the volume through the headsets was controlled.
Mick Fleetwood/Energizer EZ Hip to Hear Program: "I can't hear as well as I should be able to. So I want to stop that process and make some amends in terms of preventing it from getting any worse."
The project is drawing another round of applause from hearing researchers and clinicians like Dr. Lisa Hunter at the University of Utah. They're commending Fleetwood and others like him for searching out ways to preserve both the art and everybody's hearing at the same time. Hearing loss in young people is rising dramatically.
Dr. Lisa Hunter/Audiology, U of U College of Health: "Studies show it is definitely increasing and so teenagers have hearing more similar now to what we used to see in 40 or 50 year old people."
Decibel measurements tell all - from sounds we hardly hear - through a whisper - when we talk - to a rock concert - and louder.
Lisa is gradually increasing the level of this music to about 95 decibels. I have to raise my voice. I can hear the vibration inside my ears. But keep in mind that in a rock concert, we're now talking about a level 30 decibels higher.
These are how the little vibrating sensors in our ears should look. But once destroyed like this - they never grow back.
Hunter: "I would rather have good hearing throughout my lifespan so that I can still enjoy music when I'm 80 or 90."
And more, since we're all living longer.
