Assessment of potential noise-induced hearing loss with commercial “Karaoke” noise

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the noise levels of popular Karaoke environments in Korea and the degree of potential noise-induced hearing loss due to commercial Karaoke noise. Using 18 subjects with normal hearing, a two-way, mixed-factors experimental design was used with two independent variables of “noise source” (no-singer, one-singer, and two-singer conditions) and “music type” (Trot, Ballad, and Rock music). For each experimental condition, average sound pressure levels and maximum sound pressure levels were measured. For assessing amount of temporary hearing threshold shift as a measure of potential hearing loss index, pure-tone audiometry was applied for measuring subjects’ hearing threshold levels of both ears before and after 100 min exposure to Karaoke noise. Questionnaires from 155 actual Karaoke users were also obtained to evaluate realistic user subjective perception on the Karaoke environment. Results showed that noise levels of typical Karaoke singing environments were higher than 95 dBA, with maximum noise levels often exceeded the US OSHA's non-permissible 115 dBA level. Further statistical analysis of hearing threshold shift revealed that up to 8 dB of significant hearing loss was found at the most important human hearing frequency band, centered at 4000 Hz, after about less than 2 h of Karaoke noise exposure, indicating that Karaoke facilities may pose a serious threat to noise-induced hearing loss. Along with some ergonomic/safety issues, practical hearing protection strategies are suggested and discussed. Relevance to industry Since noise levels from popular commercial Karaoke facilities are found to be potentially dangerous, the Karaoke-related industries, of supporting a big consumer market of entertainment, need to provide safer environments to protect naive users from potential hearing loss. Providing better design of Karaoke facilities with some ergonomic intervention strategies (such as proper sound absorptive treatment in Karaoke rooms, displaying warning signs of potential hearing loss, and setting up an upper safety volume limit in the Karaoke machine, etc.) may help those industries not only contribute for consumer protection but also develop better market with strong ethical and legal support in the future.