Evaluation of the hearing functions between the right and the left ear by audiological tests in violonists

By adapting different kinds of music, the violin, which exists with its voice in almost every piece of music we hear, is an instrument that can produce a high level of musical sound, cause hearing loss when it is played. The volume of the right ear is 80-90 dB, and the volume of the left ear is in the range of 85-105 dB. This indicates that the left ear is exposed to higher sound intensity than the right ear (Chasin, 2011). For this reason, a study was conducted to determine whether there is a significant hearing difference between the right and left ear, especially due to the way the violin can produce a high-intensity musical sound, as well as to draw attention to the need of early diagnosis and protective measures to prevent the risk of possible hearing loss that may lead to a decrease in professional success in violin artists. In our study; people who are playing violin for many years, a graduate of the Conservatory of music, professionally interested in music, who are being exposed to music/noise because of exercising and working out every day and adult male and female individuals between the ages of 18-55 violinist who play music with the instrument and have nothing to do with a control group of 25 subjects was included. All participants were evaluated audiologically by pure sound audiometry, high frequency audiometry, autoacoustic emission and tympanogram measurements. In our study, data in violin artist group and control groups were compared separately according to gender, right and left side. Significant differences were found in the study and control groups in left ear High Frequency 9000, 10000, 11200, 12500, 14000 and 16000Hz measurements. (p<0.05). In all left ear High Frequency 9000, 10000, 11200, 12500, 14000 and 16000Hz measurements, the Working Group's average was higher than the control group's average. In our study, pure sound audiometry thresholds of violin artist participants gave better results than expected and the average value calculated for measuring 4000 Hz in the left ear was higher than in the control group. Recording a weaker threshold in the left ear at high frequency 14000 Hz compared to the right in the right-left ear suggests that it is important to look at the high-frequency audiometry thresholds along with the standard audiometry airway thresholds for hearing loss risk detection.