Occurrence of tinnitus and other auditory symptoms among musicians playing different instruments

Abstract

Introduction: Tinnitus is one of the most reported auditory symptoms among musicians and can negatively influence their ability to work, sometimes even more severely than hearing loss. Objectives: To analyze the occurrence of tinnitus and other auditory symptoms in musicians who play different instruments. Methods: One hundred musicians participated by answering a questionnaire on instrument played, practice time with the instrument, occurrence of tinnitus, hearing difficulties, and intolerance to loud sounds. The symptoms were analyzed in relation to gender, musical instrument, and time of experience using statistical tests such as the Chi-squared test and Difference in Proportions test at a significance level of 0.05 as well as finding the Prevalence Ratio. Results: Tinnitus was the most frequent symptom among musicians, especially among those who play amplified instruments. There was an association between tinnitus and hearing difficulty, and between instrument experience time and intolerance to loud sounds. The proportion of musicians with occasional tinnitus was high among those with less than 15 years of musical practice, and 4.53 times more prevalent in those with more than 15 years of experience. Conclusion: The presence of auditory symptoms, especially tinnitus, among musicians reinforces the need for implementation of hearing conservation programs for this profession.