Noise-induced hearing loss in music teachers

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is an occupational health problem that is not acknowledged in music schools. The Portuguese legislation on the protection of workers from noise exposure does not cover musicians. In Europe, there is a conduct code, based on the Directive 2003/10/CE, which provides general guidance to protect musicians and entertainment workers from noise. Lack of education for the conservation of hearing within the school community is a major obstacle to the effective implementation of a national hearing loss prevention strategy. This study aimed to verify if music teaching has potential to induce hearing loss on teachers. Equivalent continuous sound level (LAeq) was monitored during music classes with a sound level meter, allowing to assess the daily personal noise exposure level (L-EX,L- 8h) of twenty music teachers. Plus, all participating teachers filled in a questionnaire concerning intrinsic and individual factors, and all were submitted to simple tonal audiograms. Statistical data analysis relied on the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 21. Several music teachers (25%) are subjected to daily personal noise exposure levels above the lower action level, which requires control measures to be implemented, namely risk awareness increase. Teaching activities imposing higher noise exposure levels were group lessons and individual classes, with directional musical instruments. Hearing loss symptomatology (tinnitus, missing parts of conversations, sleeping disturbances) and hearing impairment's evolution do not seem to be directly related with daily personal noise exposure levels nor with noisy activities accomplished during leisure time.