Noise exposure in classical musicians

Researcher(s): E.J.M. Jansen. MSc., M. Neerings
Supervisor(s): prof. W.A. Dreschler, PhD., in cooperation

with J.A.P.M. de Laat, PhD., (LUMC)

Background:
Various scientific studies clarify that regular exposure to loud noise can lead to deviations in hearing. To professional musicians in the Netherlands this is a severe problem as impaired hearing could eventually lead to an incapability to work in their field. In order to solve this problem, it is of major importance to reduce the risk on developing hearing damage for musicians. However, before we can diminish this risk, we need to gain insight in the kind of hearing problems that musicians have to deal with. Therefore, the first step in this research is to make an inventory of these hearing problems.

Aim:
In this project, we aim to make an inventory of the different kind of hearing damage that professional musicians in classical orchestras can develop. We will use a broad variety of audiological tests: apart from the traditional tone audiogram that is used to investigate threshold shifts, we will also use other tests (e.g., a test to match tinnitus, a speech in noise test, etc.) in order to investigate other effects on hearing.

Method:
Professional musicians of three major professional Dutch orchestras will participate in this study. The musicians will have to complete an elaborate questionnaire involving their subjective experience of sound, noise and auditory communication. Furthermore they will have to undergo a variety of audiological tests: the tone audiogram, speech perception in noise, tinnitus, diplacusis (which is a different perception of sound in the two ears), measurement of oto-acoustic emissions (i.e., OAE), a test concerning the width of the auditory filter and loudness scaling according to the ACOLOS-procedure. To complete the study we will perform sound level measurements at concerts and repetitions.

Results:
The tests of this study have been conducted in 250 musicians of five symphony orchestras in the Netherlands. The results show that hearing of classical musicians in a symphony orchestra is heavily exposed to loud sounds, but nevertheless the audiometric damage as measured in the pure tone audiogram is relatively mild. However, musicians have relatively often other complaints that are related to hearing damage, like tinnitus, hyperacusis and diplacusis, Therefore it is at most importance to add extra tests besides of the pure tone audiogram in the monitoring of the hearing status in musicians in order to detect possible damage in an early stage. The results have been described in a Dutch report with the tilte: "De status van het gehoor van musici".

Future research:
We planned to repeat major part of the measurements of the one to two years. Further results are also conducted into the relations between the different tests that have been conducted.


Home Onderwijs Wetenschap Research (EN)
General Otology Prevention of hearing loss Ototoxicity in patients treated with the RADPLAT-protocol Noise exposure in classical musicians Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss I Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss II Auditory profile Rehabilitation Hearing at work Publications Presentations	Noise exposure in classical musicians Researcher(s): E.J.M. Jansen. MSc., M. Neerings Supervisor(s): prof. W.A. Dreschler, PhD., in cooperation with J.A.P.M. de Laat, PhD., (LUMC) Background: Various scientific studies clarify that regular exposure to loud noise can lead to deviations in hearing. To professional musicians in the Netherlands this is a severe problem as impaired hearing could eventually lead to an incapability to work in their field. In order to solve this problem, it is of major importance to reduce the risk on developing hearing damage for musicians. However, before we can diminish this risk, we need to gain insight in the kind of hearing problems that musicians have to deal with. Therefore, the first step in this research is to make an inventory of these hearing problems. Aim: In this project, we aim to make an inventory of the different kind of hearing damage that professional musicians in classical orchestras can develop. We will use a broad variety of audiological tests: apart from the traditional tone audiogram that is used to investigate threshold shifts, we will also use other tests (e.g., a test to match tinnitus, a speech in noise test, etc.) in order to investigate other effects on hearing. Method: Professional musicians of three major professional Dutch orchestras will participate in this study. The musicians will have to complete an elaborate questionnaire involving their subjective experience of sound, noise and auditory communication. Furthermore they will have to undergo a variety of audiological tests: the tone audiogram, speech perception in noise, tinnitus, diplacusis (which is a different perception of sound in the two ears), measurement of oto-acoustic emissions (i.e., OAE), a test concerning the width of the auditory filter and loudness scaling according to the ACOLOS-procedure. To complete the study we will perform sound level measurements at concerts and repetitions. Results: The tests of this study have been conducted in 250 musicians of five symphony orchestras in the Netherlands. The results show that hearing of classical musicians in a symphony orchestra is heavily exposed to loud sounds, but nevertheless the audiometric damage as measured in the pure tone audiogram is relatively mild. However, musicians have relatively often other complaints that are related to hearing damage, like tinnitus, hyperacusis and diplacusis, Therefore it is at most importance to add extra tests besides of the pure tone audiogram in the monitoring of the hearing status in musicians in order to detect possible damage in an early stage. The results have been described in a Dutch report with the tilte: "De status van het gehoor van musici". Future research: We planned to repeat major part of the measurements of the one to two years. Further results are also conducted into the relations between the different tests that have been conducted.