Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in rock musicians

Abstract

Objective: Our focus in this study was the assessment of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in a large group of rock musicians. A further objective was to analyse tinnitus among rock musicians as related to TEOAEs. Design: The study was a cross-sectional survey of rock musicians selected at random. A control group was included at random for comparison. Study sample: We recruited 111 musicians and a control group of 40 non-musicians. Testing was conducted by using clinical examination, pure tone audiometry, TEOAEs and a questionnaire. Results: TEOAE SNR in the half-octave frequency band centred on 4 kHz was significantly lower bilaterally in musicians than controls. This effect was strongly predicted by age and pure-tone hearing threshold levels in the 3–6 kHz range. Bilateral hearing thresholds were significantly higher at 6 kHz in musicians. Twenty percent of the musicians had permanent tinnitus. There was no association between the TEOAE parameters and permanent tinnitus. Conclusions: Our results suggest an incipient hearing loss at 6 kHz in rock musicians. Loss of TEOAE SNR in the 4 kHz half-octave frequency band was observed, but it was related to higher mean 3–6 kHz hearing thresholds and age. A large proportion of rock musicians have permanent tinnitus.

Key Words:

• Otoacoustic emissions
• rock musicians
• tinnitus
• hearing loss
• hearing disorders

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Anders Kjærmann Jensen and Geir Inge Skinningsrud at Norsk Musikkråd for their invaluable assistance with data collection in rock musicians, Claes Olsen of the Øya festival for providing the list of bands and contact info, Thomas Leirvik and Bjørn Helge Handegård for assistance with statistics and Karin Anderson of Entomed Norge AS for the loan of OAE equipment.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary materials available online