Austin musicians get custom-fit earplugs, free hearing screenings at HAAM clinic

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The importance of healthy listening habits and hearing loss awareness was the focus of a free clinic from the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) on Friday.

The organization has provided hearing screenings, hearing loss treatments and custom ear protection since 2009.

This year's HEAR Clinic at the HAAM office on 1st Street drew dozens of musicians who received checkups and were fitted for custom-fit filtered earplugs by the clinicians of Waterloo Audiology.

Waterloo said it carries on these services from Estes Audiology, which was a HAAM partner for more than 15 years.

HAAM said its quarterly HEAR Clinics give musicians the same care and products used by professional musicians, a group four times more likely than the general public to experience noise-induced hearing loss.

"HAAM’s collaboration with Waterloo Audiology ensures musicians continue to receive high-quality, specialized hearing care from familiar experts—keeping Austin’s music community healthy and strong," the organization said in a release to the media.