An evaluation of musician earplugs with college music students.
Musician earplugs are marketed and recommended for use in music settings but no studies have evaluated these products with musicians. This study evaluated the influences of earplugs on college students' perception and abilities to communicate in a musical environment, attitudes of earplugs, comfort over time, and the influence of earplugs on ability to play music. College students (N = 323) were provided with earplugs for use during and following an experimental condition designed to mimic a night club. Results underline the challenges of earplugs in environments that are both loud and require verbal interaction. Responses to comfort questions were variable and suggest a multi-factorial set of influences that may include intrinsic variables. Despite these limitations, subjects in this study generally liked the earplugs and believed that they are valuable. However, the earplugs were not viewed favorably by musicians willing to use the earplugs while playing music. This study supports the view that earplugs are subject to many problems and should be considered as a last resort.
Chesky
Kris
K
Texas Center for Music & Medicine, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76210, USA. kchesky@music.unt.edu
Pair
Marla
M
Yoshimura
Eri
E
Landford
Scott
S
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001307:Auditory Perception; D004430:Ear Protective Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D009622:Noise; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D013060:Speech; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult