Extended high frequency response and speech perception in noise in formally trained musicians

Abstract

The item consists of an introduction (chapter 1), methodology (chapter 2), an article (chapter 3), the discussion (chapter 4), the references (chapter 5), and the appendices (chapter 6). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of musical training on musicians’ SPIN and hearing abilities, this study compared the extended high frequency (EHF) thresholds and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) in a group of formally trained musicians and age-matched non-musician counterparts. A prospective, comparative, cross-sectional study design was employed and participants consisted of 40 musicians and 39 non-musician controls. Smartphone EHF audiometry and the smartphone digits-in-noise test were utilized for data collection. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups for the EHF thresholds and the DIN test scores (SNRs). The current study suggests that EHF audiometry may be a valuable tool for the early detection of MIHL in the young musicians as the musician participants showed early signs of MIHL. Further research in this regard is warranted.