title: Noise exposure of music teachers.
abstract: A noise exposure survey was performed to assess the risk of hearing loss to school music teachers during the course of their activities. Noise exposure of 18 teachers from 15 schools was measured using noise dosimeters. The equivalent continuous noise level (L(eq)) of each teacher was recorded during single activities (classes) as well as for the entire day, and a normalized 8-hour exposure, termed the noise exposure level (L(ex)) was also computed. The measured L(eq) exceeded the 85-dBA limit for 78% of the teachers. L(ex) exceeded 85 dBA for 39% of the teachers. Limited recommendations on how to reduce the noise exposures are provided. The need for a hearing conservation program has also been emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Sensory Communication Group, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. behar@sympatico.ca
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Behar
authors.forename: Ewen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kunov
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009146:Music; D009623:Noise, Occupational; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D013663:Teaching