Ian O'Brien

• PhD; M Audiology Studies; MPhil; BMus(hons)
• Research Audiologist at Audeara

Background: Recreational noise-specifically loud music experienced at music venues-has been recognized as a hazard for hearing damage and associated pathologies such as tinnitus. In Europe and other countries around the world, there is a range of regulatory and legislative approaches to managing the sound levels and minimizing the risk of hearing...

Excessive sound levels at events where amplified music is a central element pose a risk to hearing. Whereas noise exposure in the workplace has been recognized as a hazard for over a century, the potential harm resulting from recreational sound exposure has only become apparent in recent years. In occupational settings where sound levels are high,...

Background: Musicians are at risk of hearing loss from sound exposure, and earplugs form part of many musicians' hearing conservation practices. Although musicians typically report a range of difficulties when wearing earplugs, there are many who have managed to successfully incorporate earplugs into their practice of music. Objective: The study...

This study surveys non-orchestral musicians playing in pipe, jazz, concert, wind, or brass bands regarding their perceived risk of music-induced hearing damage, rates of self-reported hearing loss, and use of earplugs and acoustic screens while playing in an ensemble. A questionnaire was administered to 257 Australian band musicians and the data we...

Professional orchestral musicians risk permanent hearing loss while playing their instruments. Protecting the hearing of these musicians in the workplace is critical to their ongoing ability to play their instruments, but typical workplace hearing conservation measures can have very damaging effects on the product (music) and the musicians' abiliti...

Background Professional musicians employed in large orchestras are exposed to high levels of sound during orchestral rehearsals, performances and recordings. They are also exposed to sound while engaged in the daily solitary practice required to prepare music for performance and to maintain their playing skills to a very high standard. A significan...

The Sound Practice Project is a 5-year study involving baseline evaluation, development, and implementation of musician-specific work health and safety initiatives. A cross-sectional population physical and psychological survey and physical assessment were conducted at the same time, with an auditory health assessment conducted later. The results w...

Orchestral musicians are an at-risk population for noise-induced hearing loss. Following strategic approaches to mitigate exposure, many must use earplugs to safeguard their hearing, although reported usage rates are poor. Australia has progressive hearing conservation programs within many of its orchestras, yet little is known of earplug usage rat...

ABSTRACT Orchestral musicians - an at-risk group for noise-induced hearing loss - have consistently reported great difficulty using hearing protection while performing or rehearsing, even when using earplugs specifically designed for musicians. A recent innovation in this field has been electronic earplugs that claim to deliver very high quality so...

Among orchestral musicians, horn players are one of the most at-risk groups for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). To investigate this group further, pure tone audiometry and a 14-item questionnaire were used to assess the hearing health, as well as attitudes and practices regarding hearing conservation, among 142 French horn players attending an i...

It is broadly acknowledged that professional orchestral musicians risk noise-induced hearing pathologies due to sound exposure in rehearsal and performance. While much has been published regarding orchestral sound levels, little is known of the sound exposure these musicians experience during solitary practice, despite the many hours they spend eng...

It has been shown that orchestral musicians risk damage to their hearing from workplace noise exposure. Personal, administrative and engineered control measures strive to reduce exposure to the musicians while having minimal impact on the musicians' ability to produce music to the highest standard. Acoustic screens form part of a range of controls...

Hearing conservation and noise exposure management for professional orchestras is a difficult issue resistant to standard control measures as used in other industries with excessive noise problems. Although there has been a great deal of research into this area in terms of the audiological status of musicians and their exposure to noise, there are...

Professional orchestral musicians are at risk of exposure to excessive noise when at work. This is an industry-wide problem that threatens not only the hearing of orchestral musicians but also the way orchestras operate. The research described in this paper recorded noise levels within a professional orchestra over three years in order to provide g...