Clinic - Week # 10

This week in clinic I saw an adult, male who worked for the Manette Steel Drums. He was coming in for his annual hearing evaluation. He had been in previously, but the testing could not be completed because of excess cerumen in both of his ears. Not only does he play but he also builds drums. He reported wearing hearing protection when playing and also when building. Today, he was scheduled for the hearing evaluation as well as to get earmold impressions for custom ear ear protection plugs.

Due to equipment malfunctioning, immittance testing could not be performed. Speech recognitions thresholds and puretone tone thresholds were done in the sound booth using inserts. SRT and puretones results were within the normal limits. Ear mold impressions where them made for custom ear protection plugs.

I found this article that was related to noise induced hearing loss. Thirty people participated in the study. They were given portable walkman's in order to assess the effect that music has on hearing loss. Thresholds were taken before using the walkman and within one hour after using it. They found no difference in thresholds after one hour of use of the portable walkman stereo. What does this mean? When listening to music at a preferred level, and for limited time, a minimal effect on hearing will be seen. Watch those iPods!!!! Check it out :)

Pugsley, S., Stuart, A., Kalinowski, J., & Armson, J. (1993). Changes in hearing sensitivity following portable stereo system use, American Journal of Audilogy, 2, 64 - 67.

http://aja.asha.org/cgi/reprint/2/3/64?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=noise+induced+hearing+loss&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT