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Hearing loss in students at a conservatory
J M Schmidt1, J Verschuure, M P Brocaar
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Summary
Professional musicians
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Music Performance
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Loud music can pose a threat to hearing.
- The impact of professional music practice on hearing is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hearing loss in music students.
- To compare hearing health in music students versus a control group.
Main Methods:
- Audiometric testing was conducted on students at the Rotterdam conservatory.
- Medical students served as a reference group for comparison.
Main Results:
- High percentages of audiometric noise dips (16%) and high-frequency losses (20%) were observed in conservatory students.
- An unexpectedly high percentage of hearing loss was also found in the medical student control group.
- Extended high-frequency losses were prevalent in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Despite high rates of hearing anomalies in conservatory students, their exposure to music practice has not yet demonstrably affected their hearing.
- The prevalence of hearing loss in the control group suggests other contributing factors may be at play.