Abstract

Daily activities performed by music instructors generate high sound levels that could potentially lead to overexposure. Adverse outcomes associated with high-exposure to sound, such as hearing loss and tinnitus, can be especially devastating to music instructors as hearing is essential to both job performance and career reward. The primary objective of this study was to compare sound exposures of music instructors to recommended exposure limits. Secondary objectives were to identify high-exposure activities and to evaluate potential similar exposure groups by examining between- and within-worker exposure variability. Personal sound exposure measurements from music instructors were collected using dosimeters during full workdays for up to 4 weeks over multiple semesters at a university’s school of music. Study participants completed an activity log to record work-related activities throughout each day of sampling. Dosimeters logged 1-sec sound equivalent levels in A-weighted decibels. These data were used to calculate 8-hr time-weighted averages, daily dose, and activity-specific contributions to that dose to determine if daily exposures exceeded the recommended limit of 85 dBA and to identify high-exposure activities that could be targeted for future intervention. Seventeen participants were sampled for a total of 200 days. Approximately one-third of daily exposures exceeded recommended limits. The groups with the highest exposures were brass and conducting instructors. Conductors experienced the highest between-day variability in daily exposures. Activities that contributed the most to daily dose included group rehearsals, personal practice sessions, and performances, while classes and administrative work did not substantially contribute to daily dose. Daily exposures were highly variable, ranging from 60–95 dBA (mean = 81 dBA, sd = 8 dBA), and were influenced by instructional area and musical activity. Future exposure assessments for music instructors should include sampling for multiple days, and those above-recommended limits should be placed into hearing conservation programs.

摘要

音乐教师进行的日常活动会产生高声级，可能会导致过度曝光。由于听力对工作表现和职业奖励都至关重要，因此与高强度接触声音相关的不良后果（例如听力损失和耳鸣）对音乐教师来说尤其具有破坏性。本研究的主要目的是将音乐教师的声音暴露与推荐的暴露限值进行比较。次要目标是通过检查工人之间和内部的暴露变异性来识别高暴露活动并评估潜在的类似暴露组。在一所大学音乐学院的多个学期中，在长达 4 周的整个工作日期间，使用剂量计收集了来自音乐教师的个人声音暴露测量值。研究参与者完成了一份活动日志，以记录每天采样期间与工作相关的活动。剂量计以 A 加权分贝记录 1 秒的等效声级。这些数据用于计算 8 小时时间加权平均值、每日剂量和特定活动对该剂量的贡献，以确定每日暴露量是否超过建议的 85 dBA 限制，并确定未来可能针对的高暴露量活动干涉。共对 17 名参与者进行了为期 200 天的抽样调查。大约三分之一的每日暴露量超过了建议的限制。曝光率最高的组是黄铜和指挥教练。指挥家在日常暴露中经历了最高的日间变异性。对每日剂量贡献最大的活动包括小组排练、个人练习课程和表演，而课程和行政工作对每日剂量没有实质性贡献。每日暴露量变化很大，范围为 60-95 分贝（平均值 = 81 分贝，标准差 = 8 分贝），并受到教学领域和音乐活动的影响。未来对音乐教师的暴露评估应包括多天的采样，并且应将上述建议的限制纳入听力保护计划。