title: Exposure to classroom sound pressure level among dance teachers in Porto Alegre (RS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dance teachers are exposed to high sound intensities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To verify the sound intensity of music used by dance teachers during classes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a transversal and prospective study. Dance teachers were evaluated with a sociodemographic questionnaire, and sound intensity level measurements were taken at the beginning, middle, and end of dance classes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample comprised 35 teachers (average age, 31.8 years). The duration of their career as dance teachers was 1-37 years; they worked daily for approximately 1-10 h. Among the classes followed, there were 15 (42.85%) classical ballet classes, 4 (11.42%) tap dancing lessons, 5 (14.28%) jazz dance classes, 2 (5.71) Arab dance lessons, 6 (17.14%) street dance classes, and 3 (8.57%) ballroom dancing lessons. The average values observed at the beginning, middle, and end of the classes were 80.91 dB (A), 83.22 dB (A), and 85.19 dB (A), respectively. The music played in the street dance classes exposed teachers to the highest sound intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The average level of sound intensity of the dance classes in this study was either below or equal to the limit considered harmful for hearing health. Analysis of different class types showed that the sound densities of street, ballroom, and tap dance classes were above the recommended limits.
authors.affiliation: Student of Speech Therapy and Audiology. Scientific Initiation Scholarship BIC-UFRGS.
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nehring
authors.affiliation: Masters in Communication Disorder. Speech therapist at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
authors.forename: Magda Aline
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: PhD in Biomedical Gerontology. Adjunct Professor of Audiology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
authors.forename: Adriane Ribeiro
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Teixeira
keywords: noise; noise effects; occupational; sound