Tinnitus, hyperacusis and their relation to hearing loss in professional symphony orchestra musicians

Authors

  • Jesper Hvass Schmidt Dept. of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark; Dept. of Audiology Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
  • Ellen Raben Pedersen Dept. of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
  • Helene Paarup Dept. of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
  • Ture Andersen Dept. of Audiology Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
  • Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard Institute of Biology, Centre for Sound Communication, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
  • Torben Poulsen Centre for Applied Hearing Research, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
  • Jesper Bælum Dept. of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark

Abstract

Background: Musicians are exposed to loud sounds which can lead to hearing loss and hearing associated symptoms such as tinnitus and hyperacusis. Tinnitus and hyperacusis may be particular predominant in a population of musicians since musicians especially pay attention to audiologic symptoms. However, tinnitus and hyperacusis may or may not be associated with hearing loss. Purpose: To investigate the association between subjective hearing symptoms and objective hearing thresholds. Methods: Questionnaire data from 351 musicians from five symphony orchestras were used to estimate the frequency of subjective hearing loss, tinnitus and hyperacusis. Data from user operated Two Alternative Forced Choice Audiometry were available from 223 musicians and 199 of these included questionnaire data as well. Results: Subjective hearing loss was significantly (p<0.001) related to the hearing thresholds. Tinnitus was not related to the hearing thresholds in musicians. Subjects with hyperacusis were shown to have better hearing thresholds compared to musicians without hyperacusis. This was significant for the left ear after correction for age and gender (p<0.02). Conclusions: Auditory symptoms such as tinnitus and hyperacusis were not related to a reduced sensitivity in musicians. Hyperacusis was shown to be associated with a more sensitive hearing in musicians.

References

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Additional Files

Published

2011-12-15

How to Cite

Schmidt, J. H., Pedersen, E. R., Paarup, H., Andersen, T., Christensen-Dalsgaard, J., Poulsen, T., & Bælum, J. (2011). Tinnitus, hyperacusis and their relation to hearing loss in professional symphony orchestra musicians. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 3, 199–206. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2011-24

Issue

Vol. 3 (2011): Speech Perception and Auditory Disorders

Section

2011/1. Indicators of hearing impairment and measures of speech perception

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