Isaac Mitchell J, McBroom Deanna H, Nguyen Shaun A, Halstead Lucinda A
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
Department of Music, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina.
J Voice. 2017 May;31(3):379.e21-379.e32. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2016.10.003. Epub 2016 Nov 10.
Singers and voice teachers are exposed to a range of noise levels during a normal working day. This study aimed to assess the hearing thresholds in a large sample of generally healthy professional voice teachers and voice students to determine the prevalence of hearing loss in this population.
A cross-sectional study was carried out.
Voice teachers and vocal students had the option to volunteer for a hearing screening of six standard frequencies in a quiet room with the Shoebox audiometer (Clearwater Clinical Limited) and to fill out a brief survey. Data were analyzed for the prevalence and severity of hearing loss in teachers and students based on several parameters assessed in the surveys. All data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp.) and SPSS Statistics Software (IBM Corp.).
A total of 158 participants were included: 58 self-identified as voice teachers, 106 as voice students, and 6 as both. The 6 participants who identified as both, were included in both categories for statistical purposes. Of the 158 participants, 36 had some level of hearing loss: 51.7% of voice teachers had hearing loss, and 7.5% of voice students had hearing loss. Several parameters of noise exposure were found to positively correlate with hearing loss and tinnitus (P < 0.05). Years as a voice teacher and age were both predictors of hearing loss (P < 0.05).
Hearing loss in a cohort of voice teachers appears to be more prevalent and severe than previously thought. There is a significant association between years teaching and hearing loss. Raising awareness in this population may prompt teachers and students to adopt strategies to protect their hearing.
歌手和声乐教师在正常工作日会接触到一系列噪音水平。本研究旨在评估大量总体健康的专业声乐教师和声乐学生的听力阈值，以确定该人群中听力损失的患病率。
进行了一项横断面研究。
声乐教师和声乐学生可以选择在安静的房间里使用鞋盒听力计（克利尔沃特临床有限公司）自愿参加六个标准频率的听力筛查，并填写一份简短的调查问卷。根据调查中评估的几个参数，分析教师和学生听力损失的患病率和严重程度。所有数据均使用Microsoft Excel（微软公司）和SPSS统计软件（IBM公司）进行分析。
共纳入158名参与者：58人自称是声乐教师，106人是声乐学生，6人既是声乐教师又是声乐学生。为了统计目的，这6名既是声乐教师又是声乐学生的参与者被纳入两个类别。在这158名参与者中，36人有一定程度的听力损失：51.7%的声乐教师有听力损失，7.5%的声乐学生有听力损失。发现几个噪音暴露参数与听力损失和耳鸣呈正相关（P < 0.05）。作为声乐教师的年限和年龄都是听力损失的预测因素（P < 0.05）。
一组声乐教师的听力损失似乎比以前认为的更普遍、更严重。教学年限与听力损失之间存在显著关联。提高该人群的意识可能会促使教师和学生采取保护听力的策略。
