Music exposure and audiological findings in Brazilian disc jockeys (DJs)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the music exposure and hearing of disc jockeys (DJs). We conducted personal noise dosimetry on 30 DJs and interviewed them regarding their hearing and their job. We conducted pure-tone audiometry, and transient and distortion product otoacoustic emissions before their exposure to music during their work. This first test was preceded by a period of at least 12 hours without exposure to music or noise. We repeated the pure-tone audiometry and otoacoustic emissions after their music exposure, and poorer performances were registered in all retests. The nightclubs' average sound level ranged between 93.2 to 109.7 dB(A). Statistical analysis showed significant bilateral temporary threshold shifts at all frequencies between audiometry performed pre- and post-exposure to amplified music. Transient otoacoustic emissions showed a significant difference in bilateral amplitude and reproducibility at all frequency bands tested. The comparison of distortion product otoacoustic emissions results pre- and post-music exposure showed there was a significant difference in amplitude. Music exposure was associated with temporary and permanent auditory dysfunction among professional DJs.

Short-term effects of simultaneous cardiovascular workout and personal music device use on the outer hair cell function of young adults

“…In spite of this a clear trend of decreased DPOAE amplitudes was observed. Previous research has also indicated that damage due to noise is usually first evident as a notch in the higher frequencies ( Santos et al, 2007). The latter was again observed during this study.…”

Limiares auditivos em músicos militares: convencionais e altas frequências

“…In a study with 329 music students (aged between 18 and 25 years), there was no evidence of hearing loss, but of acoustic notch in 45% of the students (78% of them presented acoustic notch in 6,000 Hz and 22% in 4,000 Hz) (17) . Other studies also found hearing disorders among musicians, but not at high proportions; however, they observed acoustic notch in the frequencies of 4,000 or 6,000 Hz, more often than expected when compared to non-musicians, considering the same age and gender (1,3,8,9,(18)(19)(20) . It was observed that hearing thresholds of musicians got worse with time of exposure to music and, in this assessed group, the longer the time of exposure (in years), the worse the hearing thresholds found in high-frequency audiometry (Table 1).…”

“…Researchers throughout the world described hearing disorders caused by exposure to music, such as hearing impairment or differences in hearing thresholds, not necessarily as disorders related to hearing loss, especially in high frequencies (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10).…”

“…For the early diagnosis of hearing disorders among musicians, in order to show problems that are not yet visible in conventional audiometry, some studies have used the highfrequency audiometry (from 9,000 to 20,000 Hz) together with conventional audiometry (from 250 to 8,000 Hz) (3,8,9,(11)(12)(13) . This decision is made by the audiologist, since high-frequency audiometry is an important examination to detect hearing impairment located at the base of the cochlear duct, before its characteristic effects can be detected at the conventional frequency rate (14,15) .…”

Prevenção da perda auditiva no contexto escolar frente ao ruído de lazer

“…In these places, abuses with exposure to amplified music are common. Sound pressure levels are known to have exceeded 104-112 dB(A) (10) , and dosimetric evaluations of disc jockeys (DJs) have shown exposures of 93.2 to 109.7 dB(A) (11) . Personal music players currently enable playback and recording of digital sounds that may reach strong intensities without distortion.…”