Sound Exposure of Secondary School Music Students During Individual Study

Music students can be exposed to high sound pressure levels (SPLs) during classes, which can result in hearing damage. However, individual study can also boost their exposure. This short presentation aims to describe the SPLs to which secondary school music students are exposed during individual study, as well as the circumstances in which practice is carried out. The study involved 16 young music students, aged 12-15 yrs old. SPLs were monitored during individual study at school and at the students' homes. Measurements were performed throughout rehearsals over a 3-week period. The results show that music students are exposed to high SPLs during the individual study, with potential for it to increase, depending on the type and features of the rooms used for practice. Students were not entirely aware of the health risks related to exposure to high SPLs during individual practice, and hearing protection was never used by them. These findings denote that hearing conservation programs targeting music students should also focus on the risks to which they are exposed during individual study in different settings.