Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Professional Orchestral Musicians

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...

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Main Authors: Małgorzata PAWLACZYK-ŁUSZCZYNSKA, Małgorzata ZAMOJSKA, Adam DUDAREWICZ, Kamil ZABOROWSKI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences 2013-09-01
Series:Archives of Acoustics
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Online Access:https://acoustics.ippt.pan.pl/index.php/aa/article/view/37
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author Małgorzata PAWLACZYK-ŁUSZCZYNSKA
Małgorzata ZAMOJSKA
Adam DUDAREWICZ
Kamil ZABOROWSKI
author_facet Małgorzata PAWLACZYK-ŁUSZCZYNSKA
Małgorzata ZAMOJSKA
Adam DUDAREWICZ
Kamil ZABOROWSKI
author_sort Małgorzata PAWLACZYK-ŁUSZCZYNSKA
collection DOAJ
description 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: 86.64.0 dB) for 5–48 years (mean: 24.010.7 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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spelling doaj-art-de3cdc5ff026496ca81bf83b0a5e53a22025-08-20T03:30:25ZengInstitute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of SciencesArchives of Acoustics0137-50752300-262X2013-09-01382Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Professional Orchestral MusiciansMałgorzata PAWLACZYK-ŁUSZCZYNSKAMałgorzata ZAMOJSKAAdam DUDAREWICZKamil ZABOROWSKIThe 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: 86.64.0 dB) for 5–48 years (mean: 24.010.7 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.https://acoustics.ippt.pan.pl/index.php/aa/article/view/37orchestral musiciansexposure to orchestral noisehearingrisk of noise-induced hearing loss
spellingShingle Małgorzata PAWLACZYK-ŁUSZCZYNSKA
Małgorzata ZAMOJSKA
Adam DUDAREWICZ
Kamil ZABOROWSKI
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Professional Orchestral Musicians
Archives of Acoustics
orchestral musicians
exposure to orchestral noise
hearing
risk of noise-induced hearing loss
title Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Professional Orchestral Musicians
title_full Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Professional Orchestral Musicians
title_fullStr Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Professional Orchestral Musicians
title_full_unstemmed Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Professional Orchestral Musicians
title_short Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Professional Orchestral Musicians
title_sort noise induced hearing loss in professional orchestral musicians
topic orchestral musicians
exposure to orchestral noise
hearing
risk of noise-induced hearing loss
url https://acoustics.ippt.pan.pl/index.php/aa/article/view/37
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AT kamilzaborowski noiseinducedhearinglossinprofessionalorchestralmusicians