There's just a stigma about aging and hearing loss is often the gold standard for aging. Doctors are hoping much of that stigma will fade now that President Clinton has been fitted with a hearing aid. The baby boomers are hitting 51, and I think that this bulge in the population over the next decade will mean a lot larger numbers of hearing devices that will be dispensed. As for Willie Gregory, now he wears ear plugs to protect his hearing. He also considers himself lucky to have learned an important lesson at an early age.
Music is good, and music is good loud.
But if you don't have your ears to hear it, I mean music does you no good at all. Audiologist Richard Israel has this advice. Maybe do it in 20 minute pieces, then take a break, get away from the noise, then go back rather than be in that noise on a continuous basis. Wear ear protection. It's very inexpensive to buy ear protection.