HAAM + Estes Audiology Celebrate 15 Years of Partnership
HAAM musician clients guitarist Billy Masters (left) and drummer/guitarist/vocalist with Stone Wheels Andrew Gerfers (right) receive hearing tests in the Hearing Room at HAAM HQ. The room was designed and donated by Estes Audiology.
This year, HAAM and Estes Audiology celebrate 15 years of partnership and the Hear Clinics for HAAM musicians. Established in 2008, the collaboration between HAAM and Estes Audiology provides hearing screenings, individual counseling on conservation and protection, as well as custom-fit filtered earplugs.
“We are so honored to have continued our partnership with Estes Audiology for 15 years,” Paul Scott, CEO of HAAM, said. “Hearing health is a basic need for musicians, as hearing is an essential and irreplaceable tool for music-making, and Estes provides comprehensive auditory services, including hearing screenings and custom fit earplugs, to HAAM members.”
On Tuesday, April 11, Estes Audiology’s team of hearing specialists held a Hear Clinic at the HAAM’s new Robin & Bud Shivers Headquarters, where they were able to utilize the soundproof hearing room, which was funded and designed by Estes Audiology in order to provide a space perfectly attuned for hearing tests. After the Hear Clinic, HAAM and Estes Audiology staff gathered for a celebration event of the 15 year partnership, including a surprise presentation of a Gold Record Award (created by Gold Rush Vinyl) to honor Managing Partners Soriya Estes & Kelli House, and the entire team at Estes Audiology.
All HAAM members have access to hearing healthcare through Hear Clinics. HAAM members are eligible to attend one Hear Clinic and order one set of plugs for $25 co-pay per year. These are held roughly 4 times each year, usually at the HAAM office. One week before each clinic, all eligible members are sent an email invitation with a link to reserve a spot - these spots fill up within hours, which highlights the necessity of these services to local musicians.
Since the partnership was formed in 2008, HAAM and Estes Audiology have provided more than 4,100 hearing screenings and custom earplugs to HAAM members.
The HEAR Project budget allows HAAM to serve 400 members annually. The estimated value of Hear Clinic services is $1,000, which includes a hearing screening for a baseline of how well you hear, counseling to explain your results, visual inspection of the ear canal (wax removal if necessary), and impressions for filtered musician earplugs.
Custom filtered musician's plugs are different from traditional foam earplugs, as the level of attenuation is flat across the frequency spectrum. Non-filtered plugs can attenuate only the high frequencies and cause distortion to the sound signal. Filtered plugs come in four different strengths; 10, 16, 20 and 25 decibel filters.
“We are thrilled to be recognizing our 15 year partnership with the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians,” House, Managing Partner of Estes Audiology said. “Lifelong exposure to loud music puts musicians at risk for hearing loss and disorders such as constant ringing, degraded pitch perception or intolerance of loud music. Proper screening can help to reduce unnecessary stress on musicians' auditory systems, which is why this partnership is so critical.”
Through donor funding, a minimal co-pay, and discounted rates from Estes Audiology, the HEAR Project has been able to continue its mission to screen, educate and protect local low-income musicians. For more information about Hear Clinics, HAAM, or how you can support Austin’s working musicians, visit myhaam.org.
