Abstract
The overall purpose of this study was to assess hearing status in
professional orchestral musicians. Standard pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and
transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) were per- formed in 126
orchestral musicians. Occupational and non-occupational risk factors for
noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were identified in questionnaire
inquiry. Data on sound pressure levels produced by various groups of
instruments were also collected and analyzed. Measured hearing threshold
levels (HTLs) were compared with the theoretical predictions calculated
according to ISO 1999 (1990).
Musicians were exposed to excessive sound at weekly noise exposure levels of
for 81-100 dB (mean: 86.6±4.0 dB) for 5-48 years (mean: 24.0±10.7 years).
Most of them (95%) had hearing corresponds to grade 0 of hearing
impairment (mean hearing threshold level at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz
lower than 25 dB). However, high frequency notched audiograms typical for
noise-induced hearing loss were found in 35% of cases. Simultaneously,
about 35% of audiograms showed typical for NIHL high frequency notches
(mainly occurring at 6000 Hz). When analyzing the impact of age, gender
and noise exposure on hearing test results both PTA and TEOAE consistently
showed better hearing in females vs. males, younger vs. older musicians.
But higher exposure to orchestral noise was not associated with poorer
hearing tests results.
The musician’s audiometric hearing threshold levels were poorer than
equivalent non-noise-exposed population and better (at 3000 and 4000 Hz)
than expected for noise-exposed population according to ISO 1999 (1990).
Thus, music impairs hearing of orchestral musicians, but less than
expected from noise exposure.
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Authors and Affiliations
Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska