Mission

The primary goal of the Adopt-a-Band Program is to preserve the hearing of young musicians in music programs everywhere. The Adopt-a-Band Program provides an innovative opportunity for audiologists to inform music students, music educators, parents and program administrators about the dangers of overexposure to loud sound. Audiologists can establish themselves as the best local resource for hearing conservation by providing education about noise-induced hearing loss. The program promotes the use of high-fidelity hearing protection during practice, performance and competition. Noise dosimetry is encouraged.

Who Can Participate?

Adopters can be audiologists, parents, boosters, band directors, music educators and anyone who wants to advocate safe playing and practicing habits.

Hearing loss affects every family. Prevention is key. Audiologists have the tools to provide programs and products for their patients at all ages and stages of life. The Adopt-a-Band Program supports audiologists by providing educational materials, presentation tools and marketing ideas.

Ways for Audiologists to become Advocates

• Establish yourself as a hearing conservation expert for a school or band organization
• Adopt a marching band, concert band, drumline or other music activity in your community
• Facilitate an adoption of a band or organization by engaging parents and boosters
• Offer ETY•Plugs® earplugs through your clinic or practice to schools or bands at reduced cost
• Give presentations to local music programs
• Offer hearing screenings and custom Musicians Earplugs™ to band directors
• Purchase ETY•Plugs earplugs from Etymotic to supply to a school or organization
• Encourage adopted bands to link their organization's website to Etymotic's website
• Receive a listing on Etymotic's Adopt-a-Band webpage as a booster and a resource for your community
• Customize ETY•Plugs with your practice name for better recognition in your community

All Audiology Advocates receive:

1. 1. DVD Hear for a Lifetime
2. 2. SoundRules—Moveable slider shows safe exposure limits of common marching band instruments with and without hearing protection
3. 3. Adopt-a-Band flash drive. Compilation of informative, educational resources that contains links to websites with fun, interactive teaching tools, useful information and statistics from government websites, and articles and research papers about hearing protection and noise-induced hearing loss that pertain to musicians.
4. 4. Adopt-a-Band brochures
5. 5. Hearing protection consumer brochures

Advocates who adopt a band at Levels 3 and 4 receive:

• ER•200D Personal Noise Dosimeter with data-logging
• Musicians Earplugs for a band director of your choice
• Marketing and advertising support