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The comprehensive audiological evaluation in young violinists: the medial olivocochlear system, high frequency thresholds, and the auditory figure ground test

  • Otology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine whether the medial olivocochlear hearing system functions, the high frequency hearing thresholds and speech discrimination in noise performance can guide us in assessing the risk of hearing loss among violinists. It is aimed to investigate possible hearing damage that is not reflected in pure tone hearing thresholds in violinists.

Methods

The participants (n = 50) who have normal hearing and the ages of 18–30 were included in this study in two groups: violinists and controls who are unrelated to music. High frequency audiometer, auditory figure ground test (AFG) for speech discrimination in noise performance, Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) and contralateral suppression on DPOAE for medial olivocochlear system function tests were applied to all participants as well as routine audiological tests.

Results

The high frequency hearing thresholds were obtained higher in violinists compared to the controls. In violinists, the AFG test scores and the suppression amount at 1 kHz were lower than the controls. In addition, DPOAE responses at 4–6 kHz were obtained lower in violinists (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The reason for high frequency hearing loss, decreased DPOAE response amplitudes, and poor medial olivocochlear function in violinists can be explained by the long-term exposure to high-level noise caused by the violin, one of the closest musical instruments. Routine and comprehensive audiological follow-up is crucial for musicians.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Audiology, Gazi University Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey

    Bülent Gündüz, Nuriye Yıldırım Gökay & Emre Orhan

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Metin Yılmaz

Authors
  1. Bülent Gündüz
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  2. Nuriye Yıldırım Gökay
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  3. Emre Orhan
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  4. Metin Yılmaz
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Correspondence to Nuriye Yıldırım Gökay.

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Ethical approval

The Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Gazi University approved this study with the decision number 507.

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The informed consent approvals of all participants were obtained from themselves.

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Gündüz, B., Yıldırım Gökay, N., Orhan, E. et al. The comprehensive audiological evaluation in young violinists: the medial olivocochlear system, high frequency thresholds, and the auditory figure ground test. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 279, 3837–3845 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-07122-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-07122-8

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