Incidence of spontaneous hearing threshold shifts during modern concert performances.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
A-1b.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. voicedoc@worldnet.att.net
David A
DA
Opperman
William
W
Reifman
Robert
R
Schlauch
Samuel
S
Levine
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013016:Sound