PP1333 - Impact of Music Induced Hearing Loss and Hearing Conservation Strategies with the University of Florida School of Music

POSTERS

Location: Halls A1-A2

Instructional Level: Fundamental

Lead Presenter(s)

Natalie Ducut

University of Florida

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Presenter(s)

Sofia Sanchez

University of Florida
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Abstract: The purpose of the current study is to collect data on the hearing thresholds of University of Florida (UF) student marching band members attenuated versus unattenuated to report how successful provided custom attenuated ear plugs are as a hearing conservation effort. We want to ensure the custom attenuated ear plugs are providing the proper attenuation while providing comfort and quality listening for the marching band members. Through a survey, we will collect subjective data on how accepted the ear plugs are across UF student marching band members. We will collect objective data through audiometric testing bilaterally.

Summary: Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) can occur from a singular episode of a loud sound or consistently listening to loud sounds over an extended duration of time and is irreversible (National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, 2022). Long term exposure to loud sounds can result in a decrease of speech discrimination and an increase of hearing thresholds across frequencies resulting in a permanent hearing loss (Ding et al., 2023). A frequent secondary symptom associated with NIHL is tinnitus. Tinnitus is a perceptual phenomenon of sound without an external auditory stimulus. Treatments for tinnitus and NIHL are limited, therefore it is important we endorse ways to preserve our hearing. According to a study by Washnik et al (2021), roughly 40% of musicians report hearing difficulties, have a 57% higher chance for tinnitus, and 4x the chance of having NIHL than the general population. According to NIOSH, musicians depend on their auditory abilities for their career and often are last to receive and seek hearing health help (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2019). NIOSH (2019) states 52% of musicians experience noise exposure that surpasses their guidelines and most are not pursuing help until a secondary symptom arises. A key factor in why musicians are not motivated to use hearing protection is because it can impede their performance abilities (Halevi-Katz et al, 2015).

The research will include mixed data. The pre- and post- survey will provide subjective qualitative data and the audiometric testing will provide quantitative data. Audiometric testing will include OAE's, tympanometry and thresholds for frequencies 250-8 kHz. My expected study population is 50, 18-30 year old male and female, undergraduate students in the School of Music at UF.

For the pre-test survey, I expect to see most participants suggest they have concerns about their hearing and feel enthusiastic to wear the ear plugs. After audiometric testing, I anticipate finding a sensorineural NIHL and/or weakened OAEs in at least half of participants. I do not expect to see as much NIHL as in previous research due to the lower age range of the sample size. Therefore, weakened OAEs might be more present amongst a younger sample. For the post-test survey, I hope to receive positive feedback about the experience as a whole and find acceptance of the ear plugs across UF’s band members.We hypothesized custom attenuated ear plugs would be accepted by the musicians and increase their hearing conservation efforts to minimize the effects of NIHL overtime.

If we are able to motivate our participants into understanding the severity of hearing protection in
the future of their careers, this would open a lot of doors for our field. We could hopefully reduce
the impact of NIHL on more musicians. Further research could continue on how to make even
better and more comfortable custom fitted ear plugs to increase the use. We could have a better
understanding as audiologists as how to better educate our patients for protecting their hearing.
Especially how to promote hearing health to the younger population.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to assess their experience of using the custom attenuated ear plugs through a survey and identify where their hearing thresholds lie after audiometric testing.