Surrounded by Sound: The Impact of Tinnitus on Musicians

Georgina Burns-O’Connell, David Stockdale, Oscar Cassidy, Victoria Knowles and Derek J. Hoare
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Georgina Burns-O’Connell: British Tinnitus Association, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB, UK
David Stockdale: British Tinnitus Association, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB, UK
Oscar Cassidy: British Tinnitus Association, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB, UK
Victoria Knowles: British Tinnitus Association, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park, Woodseats Close, Sheffield S8 0TB, UK
Derek J. Hoare: NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Ropewalk House, 113 The Ropewalk, Nottingham NG1 5DU, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-16

Abstract: AIM: To investigate the impact of tinnitus on professional musicians in the UK. BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is the experience of sound when an external source is absent, primarily associated with the ageing process, hearing loss, and noise exposure. Amongst populations exposed to industrial noise, noise exposure and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) have been found to be the factors most associated with tinnitus. The risk of NIHL amongst professional musicians is greater than that amongst the general population, meaning they may be at increased risk of tinnitus. METHODS: Seventy-four professional musicians completed an online survey involving closed and open-ended questions, and completed the Tinnitus fuctional Index (TFI) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of open-ended qualitative responses were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Three themes were generated from the analysis of the responses to the open-ended questions. These themes were: (1) the impact of tinnitus on the lives of professional musicians, (2) professional musician experience of tinnitus services, support, and hearing health and safety, and (3) the support professional musicians want. The mean global TFI score for professional musicians was 39.05, interpreted as tinnitus being a moderate problem. Comparisons with general population data revealed lower TFI scores for the TFI subscales of ‘sense of control’ and ‘intrusiveness’ for professional musicians and higher for auditory difficulties associated with tinnitus amongst professional musicians. CONCLUSION: Tinnitus can negatively impact on professional musicians’ lives. There is a need for bespoke self-help groups, awareness raising, and education to prevent tinnitus and promote hearing health among musicians.

Keywords: tinnitus; musicians; occupational noise exposure; hearing health; lived experience; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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