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Convention Paper

Risk of Sound-Induced Hearing Disorders for Audio Post Production Engineers: A Preliminary Study

Authors: Sinnott, Laura; Weinstein, Barbara

AES Convention 145 · Paper 10083 · October 2018

Abstract

In this preliminary study, sound dosimetry measurements were conducted at film studios to assess whether audio post-production engineers are at risk for sound-induced hearing loss. Additionally, we measured 23 engineers’ hearing thresholds and assessed their self-perception of hearing disorders via a new questionnaire. Our results show that most participants had at least one audiometric notch, which is an early indicator of noise-induced hearing loss, and most reported experiencing hearing disorders such as tinnitus. Dosimetry suggested that sound levels pose a low risk of permanent hearing loss according to NIOSH criteria, but these criteria are not protective for disorders such as tinnitus, cochlear synaptopathy or even early threshold shifts. We recommend routine hearing evaluations and the use of hearing protection to maintain healthy hearing.

Details

Published in
AES Convention 145
AES Convention
145
Paper number
10083
Publication date
October 6, 2018
Session subject
Recording and Production
Affiliation
City University of New York, New York, NY, USA (See document for exact affiliation information.)
Type
Convention Paper