A user-operated audiometry method based on the maximum likelihood principle and the two-alternative forced-choice paradigm

Abstract

User-operated 2AFC audiometry does not require specific operating skills and the repeatability is acceptable and similar to traditional audiometry. User operated 2AFC audiometry is a reliable alternative to traditional audiometry.

Tinnitus Severity Is Related to the Sound Exposure of Symphony Orchestra Musicians Independently of Hearing Impairment

“…Data were collected from 2007 to 2010. During this period, 443 musicians were employed in the symphony orchestras, and all were offered the opportunity to participate in the study questionnaire (Schmidt et al, 2014b). In total, 325 musicians (response rate, 73.4 %) answered the questions regarding tinnitus and are included in the analyses in the present study.…”

“…The face validity of all questionnaire items including the questions in the present study was tested on musicians and music students as previously reported for a study of musculoskeletal problems in classical orchestra musicians (Paarup et al, 2011). The construct validity of the exposure time variables in this questionnaire was furthermore tested in a study specifically examining the relationship between sound exposures and hearing thresholds in musicians (Schmidt et al, 2014b). In addition, internal consistency between specific items was performed as reported in the present study.…”

“…Until now, no studies have investigated the perceived severity of the tinnitus among professional musicians, although some studies indicate that musicians may increase their use of earplugs when they notice tinnitus (Laitinen & Poulsen, 2008; O’Brien et al, 2014). It is therefore possible that tinnitus is associated with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in classical musicians, as NIHL has been reported in several studies (Axelsson & Lindgren, 1981; Emmerich et al, 2008; Jansen et al, 2009; Ostri et al, 1989; Pawlaczyk-Luszczynska et al, 2013; Royster et al, 1991; Schmidt et al, 2014b; Westmore & Eversden, 1981; Wilson et al, 2013). However, studies also found that musicians’ hearing thresholds were not worse compared with that of the general population of the same age (Karlsson et al, 1983; Kähäri et al, 2001; McBride et al, 1992; Obeling & Poulsen, 1999).…”

“…Musicians are exposed to potentially hearing damaging sound levels and therefore have an occupational risk of NIHL as well as tinnitus (Laitinen et al, 2003; O’Brien et al, 2008; Schmidt et al, 2011). Furthermore, an association between loud sound exposure and hearing loss in a dose-response dependent manner among musicians has been demonstrated (Royster et al, 1991; Schmidt et al, 2014b; Toppila et al, 2011). NIHL may, however, be associated with tinnitus, but a direct association between the level of the sound exposure and the development of tinnitus has not been demonstrated (Engdahl et al, 2012; Palmer et al, 2002).…”

Noise exposure during prehospital emergency physicians work on Mobile Emergency Care Units and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services

“…All DPOAE measurements (except baseline values) were done in a non-quiet pre-hospital setting. A standard previously validated user-operated [ 13 ] pure-tone audiometry test using a computer (Compaq nx6310) connected to a Tucker Davis, Mobile digital sound processer (TDT-RM2), with Sennheiser HDA-200 headphones in a quiet room was used to reveal any hearing loss that could be ascribed to the employees in the pre-hospital setting when compared to the in-hospital controls [ 13 ]. For all participants, sex, age and additional noisy employments or hobbies (e.g.…”