Researchers have reported public school band directors as experiencing noise-induced hearing loss. Little research has focused on collegiate band directors and university student musicians. The present study measures the sound pressure levels generated within a university concert band and compares sound levels with the criteria set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Additionally, the immediate effects of sound exposure are described by temporary threshold shifts (TTS), collected from pre- and postrehearsal hearing screenings. Time-weighted averages were computed from the sound pressure levels and compared to the permissible noise limits established by OSHA and NIOSH. None of the time-weighted averages exceeded the permissible noise limits; however, there were 139 temporary TTSs (greater than 10 dBA) measured from pre- to postrehearsal. Presumably, university concert band musicians are exposed to sound levels that, over time, may lead to noise-induced hearing loss.
Backus, J. (1977). The acoustical foundations of music (2nd ed.). New York: Norton.
2.
Bulla, W.A. (2003). Daily noise-exposure of audio engineers: Assessment of daily noise-exposures of professional music-recording audio engineers employing OSHA PEL criteria. MEIEA Journal3(1), 55-83.
3.
Cutietta, R.A., Klich, R.J., Royse, D., & Rainbolt, H. (1994). The incidence of noise-induced hearing loss among music teachers. Journal of Research in Music Education, 42(4), 318-330.
4.
Cutietta, R.A., Millin, J., & Royse, D. (1989). Noise-induced hearing loss among school band directors . Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education , 101, 41-49.
5.
Dibble, K. (1995) Hearing loss and music. Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, 43(4), 251-266.
6.
Fearn, R.W. (1993). Hearing loss in musicians. Journal of Sound and Vibration, 163(2), 372-378.
7.
Geerdes, H.P. (1987). Music facilities: Building, equipping, and renovating . Reston, VA: Music Educators National Conference.
8.
Goldstein, J. (1978). Fundamental concepts in sound measurements. In D. M. Lipscomb (Ed.) Noise and audiology. Baltimore: University Park Press.
9.
Grayston, P.D., & Alvord, L.S. (1993, Fall). Noise levels in secondary band rooms. Rocky Mountain Journal of Communication Disorders, 5-6.
10.
International Organization for Standardization. ( 1971). Assessment of occupational noise exposure for hearing conservation purposes (Reference No. ISO R-1999). Geneva , Switzerland: Author.
11.
International Organization for Standardization. ( 1995). Acoustics: Determination of occupational noise exposure and estimation of noise-induced hearing impairment (Reference No. ISO-1999) . Geneva, Switzerland: Author.
12.
Jansson, E., & Karlsson, K. (1983). Sound levels in the symphony orchestra and risk criteria for hearing loss. Scandinavian Audiology, 12, 215-221.
13.
Johnson, D.W., Sherman, R.E., Aldridge, J., & Lorraine, A. (1985). Effects of instrument type and orchestral position on hearing sensitivity for 0.25 to 20 kHz in the orchestral musician. Scandinavian Audiology, 14, 215-221.
14.
Kryter, K.D. (1985). The effects of noise on man (2nd ed.). San Diego: Academic Press .
15.
League for the Hard of Hearing. (2001). Hearing Rehabilitation Quarterly: Noise and Hearing-The Facts. Retrieved July 3, 2008, from http://www.lhh.org/noise/archives/hrq_facts.html
16.
Millin, J. (1985). Sound levels in two high school band rooms in an Ohio school system. Unpublished report, Kent State University , OH.
17.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (1998). Criteria for a recommended standard: Occupational noise exposure (NIOSH Publication No. 98-126). Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
18.
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq. (2004). Retrieved February 21, 2006, from http://www.osha.gov/pls/ oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=OSHACT&p_id=3355
19.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Occupational Noise Exposure Standard, 29 C.F.R. § 1910.95 (1999). Retrieved July 3, 2008, from http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/ owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=9735
20.
Owens, D.T. (2003). An analysis of the high school band director's exposure to sound pressure levels. Dissertation Abstract International , 64 (03), 839A. (UMI No. 3085859)
21.
Royer, R.D. (1996). Sound pressure levels and frequencies generated in secondary public school band rooms (Doctoral dissertation, University of Utah, 1996). Dissertation Abstracts International, 57 (10), 6187B.
22.
Royster, J.D., Royster, L.H., & Killion, M.C. (1991). Sound exposures and hearing thresholds of symphony orchestra musicians. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 89(6), 2793-2803.
23.
Sataloff, R.T., & Sataloff, J. (1991). Hearing loss in musicians. In R. T. Sataloff, A. G. Brandfonbrener , & R. J. Lederman (Eds.), Textbook of performing arts medicine (pp. 301-317). New York: Raven.
24.
Sataloff, R.T., & Sataloff, J. (1993). Hearing loss (3rd ed.). New York: Marcel Dekker.
25.
Schmidt, J.M., Verschuure, J., & Brocaar, M.P. (1994). Hearing loss in musicians. Audiology , 33, 185-194.
26.
Wenger Corporation. (2006). Acoustic shield technical sheet. Retrieved January 31, 2007, from http://www.wengercorp.com/web/wgrmenu.pgm?smurfid=03777009151220070201186219518511&loadpage=
27.
Yost, W.A. (1994). Fundamentals of hearing: An introduction (3rd ed.). San Diego: Academic Press.
