Medical Problems of Performing Artists · 2007 · 34 citations · 0 references
Health ProfessionsAudiologyOtolaryngologyHearing ConservationHearing ScienceOtologyHearing Protection DevicesMusician Hearing ConservationNoise DosimetryNoise ExposureNoise MeasurementOccupational Noise ExposureBackground Noise LevelsCriteria For MeasurementDaily Noise ExposureMeasurementMusical PracticeOccupational Noise AssessmentOccupational Noise Exposure AssessmentProtective Hearing Devices
The study surveyed 27 student musicians on practice habits, hearing conservation knowledge, and tinnitus, while simultaneously measuring noise exposure during practice and sporting events with dosimeters using OSHA and NIOSH criteria. Results showed that 48% of musicians practiced less than 10 hours weekly, 74% had heard about noise effects, yet fewer than a third used hearing protection consistently; 63% reported tinnitus, all subjects exceeded a 100% daily noise dose, indicating a high risk of permanent hearing loss and underscoring the need for ongoing hearing conservation education.
Twenty-seven student musicians were surveyed regarding musical practice and playing habits, knowledge of hearing conservation practices, use of hearing protective devices (HPD), and the occurrence of tinnitus after exposure to loud music. In addition, noise exposure levels during practice and sporting events (football and basketball games) at which they played were monitored with a dosimeter simultaneously set to measure noise levels using the OSHA (1983) and NIOSH (1998) measurement criteria. Forty-eight percent of the subjects reported practicing or playing their instrument <10 hours a week. Most musicians (74%) reported having been taught about the effects of noise on hearing and health; however, less than a third used ear protection while playing their instruments, and those who did used it inconsistently. Sixty-three percent of subjects reported experiencing tinnitus after exposure to loud music. Finally, 8-hour time-weighted averages (TWA) and daily noise doses were significantly higher using the NIOSH measurement criteria than the OSHA measurement criteria. Both measurement criteria yielded values that exceeded a 100% daily noise dose for all subjects. Overall, these results indicate that university student directors and musicians appear to be at high risk for permanent noise-induced hearing loss secondary to excessive exposure to loud music. These results support the need for on-going hearing conservation programs to educate student musicians and student directors about the dangers of excessive exposure to loud music.