ABSTRACT
Purpose
To analyze the impact of exposure to music in the hearing process and quality of life in musicians of a symphony orchestra.
Methods
This is a descriptive, cross-cut, quantitative study on the aspects of hearing health in 30 musicians of the symphony orchestra of Paraná, ages between 33 and 54 years. The sound pressure levels that musicians are exposed to were measured during the orchestra rehearsal, and participants answered a questionnaire about the musical practice as well as the SF-36 questionnaire, which investigates the quality of life. Conventional audiometry and high-frequency audiometry were applied.
Results
During the orchestra rehearsal, hazardous sound pressure levels to musicians’ hearing health were observed. The commonest symptoms reported were tinnitus and intolerance to intense sounds. In the conventional audiometry test, more than half of the musicians featured sensorineural hearing loss, and the worst results were found in high frequencies. In the high -frequency audiometry test, higher auditory thresholds were also found in higher frequencies. As for quality of life, there was significant correlation for musicians with hearing loss in the domain “limitation due to emotional aspects”.
Conclusion
the sound pressure levels that musicians are exposed to are excessive and represent a risk to hearing health. Hearing loss and other auditory symptoms can interfere in their quality of life, once hearing is essential to this professional category.
Music; Occupational exposure; Hearing; Hearing loss; Quality of life