OBJECTIVES: Concerts have long periods of intense sound with short break intervals. Hearing concerns are well known to performers; concertgoers largely ignore them. Preperformance and postperformance audiograms were compared to assess hearing threshold shifts with and without earplugs. METHODS: A prospective, randomized study in which 29 volunteers attended 3 concerts, encompassing 3 music genres. Audiograms, seating location, sound intensity, and earplug-use data were collected. Data were analyzed to determine frequency test-retest variability. RESULTS: Sound levels averaged 99.8 dBA, and the maximum was 125.6 dBA. Sixty-four percent (9/14) of participants without earplugs showed significant threshold shifts compared with 27% (4/15) of those using earplugs. No significant differences existed between music genres or seating location. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a high incidence of threshold shifts in unprotected concertgoers. Sound levels exceeded all Occupational Safety and Health Act rules despite standardized sound systems. A significant reduction in threshold shifts was seen with the use of earplugs.
[1]
Larry H. Royster,et al.
Chapter 5: Auditory and Nonauditory Effects of Noise
,
2003
.
[2]
Lou Harry,et al.
The Noise Manual
,
2001
.
[3]
Elliott H. Berger,et al.
Hearing Protection Devices
,
2007
.
[4]
A. Axelsson,et al.
Temporary threshold shift after exposure to pop music.
,
1978,
Scandinavian audiology.
[5]
F. W. Cody,et al.
Vestibular responses to loud dance music: a physiological basis of the "rock and roll threshold"?
,
2000,
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.
[6]
W. D. Ward,et al.
Safety and clinical performance of acoustic reflex tests.
,
1999,
Ear and hearing.
[7]
Richard C. Cabot,et al.
Sound Levels and Spectra of Rock Music
,
1978
.