Occupational hearing loss in music performers of Cuenca’s Symphonic Orchestra, 2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Noise-induced hearing loss (NHL) is the second leading cause of hearing loss, after presbycusis. It is considered an occupational disease and a public health problem. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of occupational noise-induced hearing loss and its association with other sociodemographic and occupational variables in performers of Cuenca’s Symphonic Orchestra in 2019. METHODS: This is an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study, whose universe was conformed by the professional musicians of Cuenca’s Symphonic Orchestra in 2019. We aimed to establish the risk of noise-induced hearing loss in association with variables such as age, sex, hours of daily practice, material of the instrument played, and years of exercise as a musician, throught Odds Ratio statistical test. The 45 musicians were surveyed and audiometric tests were performed. RESULTS: The universe consisted of 45 musicians: 38 males and 7 females. The average age was 40 years. 46.7% played a musical instrument profesionaly for more than ten years and 53.3% for up to ten years. 60% practiced more than 10 hours a day. 53.3% played string instruments, 20% woodwind instruments, 17.8% brass instruments and 8.9% percussion instruments. The prevalence of hearing loss was 17.8%: 13.3% bilateral and 4.4% unilateral. The prevalence of mild hearing loss was 8.9%; moderate in 6.7% and acoustic trauma occurred in 2.2%. Age (>30 years) and working time (>10 years) represented risks for hearing loss development. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss was 17.8%, mostly mild and bilateral. All those who were affected were male. The prevalence was higher among musicians who played wind-metal instruments; however, no statistically significant association was found. Being older than 30, and having played professionally for more than years are risk factors for noise-induce hearing loss.