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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Incidence of spontaneous hearing threshold shifts during modern concert performances
David A Opperman1, William Reifman, Robert Schlauch
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. voicedoc@worldnet.att.net
Objectives:
Concerts have long periods of intense sound with short break intervals. Hearing concerns are well known to performers; concertgoers largely ignore them. Preperformance and postperformance audiograms were compared to assess hearing threshold shifts with and without earplugs.
Methods:
A prospective, randomized study in which 29 volunteers attended 3 concerts, encompassing 3 music genres. Audiograms, seating location, sound intensity, and earplug-use data were collected. Data were analyzed to determine frequency test-retest variability.
Results:
Sound levels averaged 99.8 dBA, and the maximum was 125.6 dBA. Sixty-four percent (9/14) of participants without earplugs showed significant threshold shifts compared with 27% (4/15) of those using earplugs. No significant differences existed between music genres or seating location.
Conclusions:
This study showed a high incidence of threshold shifts in unprotected concertgoers. Sound levels exceeded all Occupational Safety and Health Act rules despite standardized sound systems. A significant reduction in threshold shifts was seen with the use of earplugs.
Ebm Rating:
A-1b.
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