Otoacoustic emissions in young adults exposed to drums noise of a college band

Abstract

Purpose: to identify cochlear dysfunction and occurrence of tinnitus in young adults exposed to drums noise of a college band.Methods: the sample included 50 subjects: 25 musicians (study group) and 25 non--musicians (control group). The procedures included anamnesis, pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance and Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions, Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions InputOutput function.Results: positive correlation between the occurrence of tinnitus and the variables exposure time and use of personal stereos was found. Overall, the study group showed significantly lower Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions, when compared to the control group. In the study group, there was a tendency toward worse response in 6 kHz(f2) in Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions in both ears. The Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions Input-Output function did not differ between groups nor did its slope.Conclusion: in general, otoacoustic emissions were worse in noise-exposed young people (study group) when compared to the unexposed (control group), indicating that the test may be important in early identification of cochlear changes.

Audiological profile of professional disc jockeys

“…In the comparison between the frequencies of the DPOAE test, it is noted that the frequency of 5,000 Hz presented diminished amplitude and signal-to-noise ratio -and greater amount of fails -when compared to the other frequencies. Similar datum was found in a study conducted with individuals exposed to drums noise in a college band, which demonstrated, in the frequency of 6,000 Hz in both ears, a tendency of the control group to present better responses than the exposed group 14 . The amplitude of the otoacoustic emissions represents the amount of external hair cells that are sound.…”

“…The results that presented inferior data based on the abovementioned parameters in at least two frequencies were considered altered (with impairment of the external hair cells of the Organ of Corti). The criteria used were developed based on previous studies 13,14 .…”

“…This means that the time the professional is exposed makes the results of the test with amplitude criterion to be altered on both ears. The decrease in amplitude of the transient and distortion product otoacoustic emissions may result from the factory workers' or musicians' exposure to noise 14 .…”