Objective: The present study aimed at measuring the sound pressure levels to which carnival musicians are exposed, especially those who play frevo and maracatu rhythms. We also investigated musicians' minimum auditory levels, learned their complaints, habits and hearing difficulties and compared the results between frevo and maracatu groups in order to gather data for the implementation of a Hearing Conservation Program directed to counsel professions about auditory risks of exposure to music. Study design: Clinical prospective randomized. Material and method: Our sample consisted of 19 frevo's group musicians and 31 maracatu's group musicians, aged between 12 and 71 years. We used a questionnaire to learn about musicians' correlated complaints and habits. The minimum auditory levels were measured. Results: The main complaints were dizziness and tinnitus, and the most frequent habits were going out to discos and wearing walkman. Audiometric configuration in frevo group showed 42.10% of audiometric curves suggesting NIHL, whereas in maracatu group the frequency was 16.13%. In frevo group, age, time span of the career and time of exposure to music influenced the occurrence of auditory abnormalities. Conclusions: We concluded that it is necessary to implement a Hearing Conservation Program for this population of musicians, owing mainly to their poor awareness of risks associated with onset of hearing loss as a result of exposure to music at high sound pressure levels.
audiometry; hearing loss; noise induced music; musicians
