Exposure to excessive sounds and hearing status in academic classical music students
Journal Title: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health - Year 2017, Vol 30, Issue 1
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess hearing of music students in relation to their exposure to excessive sounds. Material and Methods: Standard pure-tone audiometry (PTA) was performed in 168 music students, aged 22.5±2.5 years. The control group included 67 subjects, non-music students and non-musicians, aged 22.8±3.3 years. Data on the study subjects’ musical experience, instruments in use, time of weekly practice and additional risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) were identified by means of a questionnaire survey. Sound pressure levels produced by various groups of instruments during solo and group playing were also measured and analyzed. The music students’ audiometric hearing threshold levels (HTLs) were compared with the theoretical predictions calculated according to the International Organization for Standardization standard ISO 1999:2013. Results: It was estimated that the music students were exposed for 27.1±14.3 h/week to sounds at the A-weighted equivalent-continuous sound pressure level of 89.9±6.0 dB. There were no significant differences in HTLs between the music students and the control group in the frequency range of 4000–8000 Hz. Furthermore, in each group HTLs in the frequency range 1000–8000 Hz did not exceed 20 dB HL in 83% of the examined ears. Nevertheless, high frequency notched audiograms typical of the noise-induced hearing loss were found in 13.4% and 9% of the musicians and non-musicians, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of notching in the music students increased significantly along with higher sound pressure levels (OR = 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.014–1.13, p < 0.05). The students’ HTLs were worse (higher) than those of a highly screened non-noise-exposed population. Moreover, their hearing loss was less severe than that expected from sound exposure for frequencies of 3000 Hz and 4000 Hz, and it was more severe in the case of frequency of 6000 Hz. Conclusions: The results confirm the need for further studies and development of a hearing conservation program for music students. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(1):55–75
Authors and Affiliations
Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska, Adam Dudarewicz, Kamil Zaborowski
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP272631
- DOI 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00709
- Views 114
- Downloads 0
Auditory fatigue among call dispatchers working with headsets
Objectives: To determine whether call center dispatchers wearing headsets are subject to auditory fatigue at the end of a work shift. Material and Methods: Data was gathered at times when call centers were busiest. All c...
ASSESSMENT OF REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY AND GONADOTOXIC POTENTIAL<br /> OF N-METHYL-2-PYRROLIDONE IN MALE RATS
Objectives: N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a solvent used in petrochemical, electric and electronic industries, and in the production of paint removers, pesticides and veterinary drugs. The substance exhibits slight acu...
Subcutaneous administration of infliximab-attenuated silica-induced lung fibrosis
Objectives: To investigate the influence of the anti-tumor necrosis factor-α infliximab (IFX) in the case of rats with silicosis. Material and Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. The stu...
The mediating role of nurses’ professional commitment in the relationship between core self-evaluation and job satisfaction
Objectives: The aim of this study has been to examine the degree to which it is possible to predict job satisfaction in hospital nurses based on core self-evaluation and the nurses’ professional commitment. Psychological...
Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of occupational physicians towards vaccinations of health care workers: A cross sectional pilot study in North-Eastern Italy
Objectives: This study aims to characterize personal attitudes and knowledge of a sample of Italian occupational physicians (OPhs) towards immunization practice in the case of healthcare workers (HCWs). Material and Meth...