Hearing and Tinnitus Evaluation in Music Teachers

Introduction: Tinnitus is one of the most reported auditory symptoms among musicians and can negatively influence their ability to work, sometimes even more severely than hearing loss. Objectives: To analyze the occurrence of tinnitus and other auditory symptoms in musicians who play different instruments. Methods: One hundred musicians participated by answering a questionnaire on instrument played, practice time with the instrument, occurrence of tinnitus, hearing difficulties, and intolerance to loud sounds. The symptoms were analyzed in relation to gender, musical instrument, and time of experience using statistical tests such as the Chi-squared test and Difference in Proportions test at a significance level of 0.05 as well as finding the Prevalence Ratio. Results: Tinnitus was the most frequent symptom among musicians, especially among those who play amplified instruments. There was an association between tinnitus and hearing difficulty, and between instrument experience time and intolerance to loud sounds. The proportion of musicians with occasional tinnitus was high among those with less than 15 years of musical practice, and 4.53 times more prevalent in those with more than 15 years of experience. Conclusion: The presence of auditory symptoms, especially tinnitus, among musicians reinforces the need for implementation of hearing conservation programs for this profession.

Tinnitus is one of the most reported auditory symptoms among musicians and can negatively influence their ability to work, sometimes even more severely than hearing loss. Objectives: To analyze the occurrence of tinnitus and other auditory symptoms in musicians who play different instruments. Methods: One hundred musicians participated by answering a questionnaire on instrument played, practice time with the instrument, occurrence of tinnitus, hearing difficulties, and intolerance to loud sounds. The symptoms were analyzed in relation to gender, musical instrument, and time of experience using statistical tests such as the Chi-squared test and Difference in Proportions test at a significance level of 0.05 as well as finding the Prevalence Ratio. Results: Tinnitus was the most frequent symptom among musicians, especially among those who play amplified instruments. There was an association between tinnitus and hearing difficulty, and between instrument experience time and intolerance to loud sounds. The proportion of musicians with occasional tinnitus was high among those with less than 15 years of musical practice, and 4.53 times more prevalent in those with more than 15 years of experience. Conclusion: The presence of auditory symptoms, especially tinnitus, among musicians reinforces the need for implementation of hearing conservation programs for this profession.

International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Safety, 2017

Musical instruments and singers’ voices can reach high sound pressure values representing a risk to hearing health, which is of particular relevance for music teachers. Therefore, the potential risk of hearing damage among music teachers in a university school of music was assessed. Twenty teachers completed all phases of the study. Sound pressure levels were measured with a sound meter and daily noise exposure levels were computed and compared with legal reference values in force. Three types of hearing exams were administered to all teachers by health technicians. Most teachers (75%) were subjected to daily noise exposure levels below 80 dB(A). Teaching to play brass instruments appears to be the most risky activity. Only three subjects were diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss, which cannot be exclusively ascribed to occupational activities because they are involved in extracurricular activities. Increased sample size and the use of noise dosimetry would have improved the st...

International Journal of Environmental research and Public health

Professional musicians (PMs) are at high risk of developing hearing loss (HL) and other audiological symptoms such as tinnitus, hyperacusis, and diplacusis. The aim of this systematic review is to (A) assess the risk of developing HL and audiological symptoms in PMs and (B) evaluate if different music genres (Pop/Rock Music—PR; Classical Music—CL) expose PMs to different levels of risk of developing such conditions. Forty-one articles including 4618 PMs were included in the study. HL was found in 38.6% PMs; prevalence was significantly higher among PR (63.5%) than CL (32.8%) PMs; HL mainly affected the high frequencies in the 3000-6000 Hz range and was symmetric in 68% PR PMs and in 44.5% CL PMs. Tinnitus was the most common audiological symptom, followed by hyperacusis and diplacusis. Tinnitus was almost equally distributed between PR and CL PMs; diplacusis was more common in CL than in PR PMs, while prevalence of hyperacusis was higher among PR PMs. Our review showed that PR musicians have a higher risk of developing HL compared to CL PMs; exposure to sounds of high frequency and intensity and absence of ear protection may justify these results. Difference in HL symmetry could be explained by the type of instruments used and consequent single-sided exposure.

International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 2014

Introduction: Tinnitus is an unwanted auditory perception, with many causes, subjectively and affects the quality of life. It is important to evaluating the quality of life of tinnitus patients and related factors in treatment of tinnitus. The measurements of tinnitus psychoacoustic include pitch, loudness, minimum masking levels and residual inhibition. Aim: To analyze the correlation between hearing threshold, tinnitus pitch and loudness with quality of life of tinnitus patients in Makassar. Methods: This was an analytic observational study with cross sectional design that has been approved by the Ethical Review Health Committee, Faculty of Medicine of Hasanuddin University number UH13070267. One hundred tinnitus patients were measured hearing threshold, tinnitus pitch and loudness by matching test method. The quality of life was assessed by Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaires. Data was analysed using chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis and Rank Spearman correlation test. Results: There was a statistically significant correlation (p<0,05) between hearing threshold, tinnitus pitch and loudness with quality of life of tinnitus patients. Tinnitus patient with hearing loss have a poorer quality of life than individuals without hearing loss. High pitch and loudness are more disturb quality of life of tinnitus patients. Conclusion: The results of our study highlight the importance of hearing threshold, tinnitus pitch and loudness as major components effect quality of life of tinnitus patients. The tinnitus psychoacoustic measurement should be a routine examination for tinnitus patients.

The international tinnitus journal, 2012

The perception of tinnitus varies among individuals. The limitations caused by tinnitus are related to psychological factors, mood changes and psychiatric conditions, while other factors related to discomfort caused by tinnitus are being studied. Hearing loss is an important factor for the onset of tinnitus. To evaluate the correlation between the degree of discomfort caused by tinnitus and the hearing loss level. A retrospective study of the patients treated at the Otolaryngology Service of the State University from Campinas for 15 months, using the Visual-Analogue Scale to classify the degree of discomfort by tinnitus. 107 patients were studied and there was no correlation between the degree of annoyance of tinnitus with hearing loss, age, gender, presence of dizziness, of neck pain, headache, changes of the temporomandibular joint, the use of caffeine or excessive intake of carbohydrates. The discomfort was slightly higher in patients without hearing loss and in women. Dizziness,...

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2008

Objectives An investigation of the hearing status of musicians of professional symphony orchestras. Main questions are: (1) Should musicians be treated as a special group with regard to hearing, noise, and noise related hearing problems (2) Do patterns of hearing damage diVer for diVerent instrument types (3) Do OAE have an added value in the diagnosis of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) in musicians. Methods 241 professional musicians, aged between 23-64 participated. A brief medical history and the subjective judgment of their hearing and hearing problems were assessed. Musicians were subjected to an extensive audiological test battery, which contained testing of audiometric thresholds, loudness perception, diplacusis, tinnitus, speech perception in noise, and otoacoustic emissions. Results Most musicians could be categorized as normal hearing, but their audiograms show notches at 6 kHz, a frequency that is associated with NIHL. Musicians often complained about tinnitus and hyperacusis, while diplacusis was generally not reported as a problem. Tinnitus was most often localized utmost left and this could not be related to the instrument. It was usually perceived in high frequency areas, associated with NIHL. In general, musicians scored very well on the speech-in-noise test. The results of the loudness perception test were within normal limits. Otoacoustic emissions were more intense with better pure-tone thresholds, but due to large individual diVerences it can still not be used as an objective test for early detection of NIHL. Conclusions Musicians show more noise induced hearing loss than could be expected on the basis of age and gender. Other indicators, such as complaints and prevalence of tinnitus, complaints about hyperacusis and prevalence of diplacusis suggest that musicians' ears are at risk. Continuing education about the risks of intensive sound exposure to musicians, with the emphasis on the possible development of tinnitus and hyperacusis and the need for good hearing protection is warranted.

Revista CEFAC, 2020

Purpose: to verify whether there is a correlation between tinnitus sensation and repercussion on the quality of life and craniocervical posture in teachers, participating in the Pró-Mestre project. Methods: a cross-sectional study with a sample of 90 teachers, mean age of 47.70 years, who responded to the Craniocervical Dysfunction Index (CDI), to verify the craniocervical posture, the analog visual scale (AVS), and the Portuguese adaptation of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), to investigate tinnitus and its impact on the quality of life. Appropriate statistical tests were applied, by adopting a significance level lower than 0.05. Results: out of the 90 teachers, 18 (20%) had tinnitus. There was a statistically significant difference between the sensation of tinnitus, according to the AVS and the craniocervical posture (CDI) in teachers (p &lt;0.001). There was also an association between tinnitus complaint and right-rotation range of motion, with age and right lateral tilt be...

2021

AIM: To investigate the impact of tinnitus on professional musicians in the UK. BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is the experience of sound when an external source is absent, primarily associated with the ageing process, hearing loss, and noise exposure. Amongst populations exposed to industrial noise, noise exposure and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) have been found to be the factors most associated with tinnitus. The risk of NIHL amongst professional musicians is greater than that amongst the general population, meaning they may be at increased risk of tinnitus. METHODS: Seventy-four professional musicians completed an online survey involving closed and open-ended questions, and completed the Tinnitus fuctional Index (TFI) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of open-ended qualitative responses were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Three themes were generated from the analysis of the responses to the open-ended questions. These themes were: (1) the impact of tinnit...

International Journal of Audiology, 2010

This study describes the prevalence and characteristics of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in student musicians (N = 329) aged 18-25 years. Students completed a questionnaire regarding exposures before a hearing assessment. NIHL was defined by the presence of a notch 15 dB in depth at 4000 or 6000 Hz relative to the best preceding threshold. Overall prevalence of NIHL was 45%, with 78% of notches occurring at 6000 Hz. The proportion of the total population with bilateral notching at any frequency was 11.5%, mostly occurring at 6000 Hz. There was a significant increase in the frequency of notching in students who reported more than two hours per day of personal practice. There were no significant associations for instrument group or other noise exposures. The data suggest that susceptibility to NIHL among students of music is not uniform and cannot be ascribed solely to the instrument played and other exposures. Students with bilateral losses tend to have deeper notches and may represent a group that has an inherent predisposition to NIHL. Sumario Este estudio describe la prevalencia y las características de la hipoacusia inducida por ruido (NIHL) en estudiantes de música (N = 329) con edades entre 18 y 25 años. Los estudiantes completaron un cuestionario sobre exposición a ruido antes de la evaluación auditiva. Se definió NIHL como la presencia de una muesca de 15dB en 4000 o 6000Hz con relación al mejor umbral precedente. La prevalencia general de NIHL fue de 44%, con 78% de las muescas en 6,000 Hz. La proporción de la población total con muescas bilaterales en cualquier frecuencia fue de 11.5%, en su mayoría a 6,000 Hz. Hubo un incremento significativo en la frecuencia de la muescas en los estudiantes que reportaban más de dos horas al día de práctica profesional. No hubo una asociación significativa con grupos de instrumentos u otra exposición a ruido. Los datos sugieren que la susceptibilidad a NIHL entre los estudiantes de música no es uniforme y no puede atribuirse solamente al instrumento tocado o a otras exposiciones. Los estudiantes con pérdida bilateral tienden a tener muescas más profundas y pueden representar un grupo que tenga una predisposición inherente a la NIHL.