Aural Diversity
John L. Drever, Andrew Hugill
Abstract
Musicians are at high risk of hearing loss and tinnitus due to regular exposure to loud music. Hearing problems may impact on performance abilities; limit employment opportunities; and impact on general wellbeing. Conventional measures of hearing loss (audiometry) do not reliably predict common hearing problems such as following a conversation in a noisy environment and tinnitus. Therefore, hearing damage might go undetected (termed ‘hidden hearing loss’), and the effects of noise exposure on musicians’ hearing may have been underestimated. Studies investigating noise-induced hidden hearing loss in musicians have produced mixed findings. This chapter provides an overview of this research area and explores how hearing may be affected by a complex interaction of factors including musicianship, noise exposure, auditory and cognitive skills, and ageing.