Background: During live concerts attendees are exposed to excessive high intensity sounds
for durations considered dangerous to the auditory system. Thus, regular live music concert
attendees are at risk for developing Music Induced Hearing Loss (MIHL) due to their
recreational habits. Although MIHL is preventable, current hearing conservation is limited at
live music venues. As personal hearing protection is poor within this community, a need for
alternative hearing conservation strategies is evident.
Method: The objectives of this multi-method quantitative research study was to determine
whether venue-based hearing conservation strategies in live music venues are a plausible
means of reducing the risk of music induced hearing loss. Four live rock and heavy metal
music venues in Johannesburg (South Africa) were included in the study. The current venuebased
hearing conservation strategies as well as the acoustic and structural characteristics of
these venues are described. In addition, the Sound Pressure Levels (SPLs) were measured
throughout the venues. The variance of the mean SPLs between different areas within these
venues were then calculated and effects of the structural characteristics on the variance of the
sound levels within the venues were determined.
Results: The results indicated that hearing conservation including awareness programs and
availability of Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) are not currently occurring in the music
venues. Music venues further do not comply with the OHSA (2003) regulations nor are they
compliant in terms of the acoustic and structural recommendations for reducing the intensity
levels in music venues. Statistical analysis indicated at least one pair of significant
differences in the mean SPLs recorded in the different areas in each venue. Results further
indicated trends in the variance of intensity levels between different areas confirming a
positive relationship between each of these five trends and the variance of sound levels. Thus,
this study indicates that venue-based hearing conservation strategies may be a plausible
means for reducing the risk for MIHL in attendees at live music venues.
Implications: Implications of this study are discussed in relation to clinical and practice
guidelines for both audiologists, and occupational health personnel, whilst the need for
changes in legislation are highlighted.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/13162 |
| Date | 27 September 2013 |
| Creators | Horrell, Katherine Sally |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf, application/pdf |
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