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Hearing impairment in orchestral musicians
Scandinavian Audiology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Classical musicians experience significant hearing loss, with 58% showing impairment. This occupational noise exposure, particularly affecting males and violinists, may stem from symphonic music performance.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Occupational Health
- Music Performance
Background:
- Classical musicians face potential risks of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
- Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of NIHL in symphony orchestra musicians is crucial for preventative measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of hearing impairment among symphony orchestra musicians.
- To investigate the relationship between musical occupation and noise-induced hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- Audiological examinations were conducted on 95 musicians (15 females, 80 males) from The Royal Danish Theatre.
- Hearing thresholds were compared to reference data (ISO 7029).
- Hearing impairment was defined as hearing sensitivity < 20 dB HL in one or both ears.
Main Results:
- Median hearing thresholds were elevated across all age groups compared to the reference material.
- 58% of musicians exhibited hearing impairment.
- Males (50%) and females (13%) showed audiograms consistent with occupational noise exposure, with violinists having poorer left-ear hearing at high frequencies.
Conclusions:
- Symphony orchestra musicians demonstrate a high prevalence of hearing impairment.
- The findings suggest that symphonic music performance is a likely cause of this occupational hearing loss.