Potential Risk of Hearing Damage Associated with Exposure to Highly Amplified Music

The experience of highly amplified music listening is described from a psychoacoustic and phenomenologic standpoint in order to characterize both the estimated risk of hearing damage and the perception of such a risk. Exposure as attenders and as the result of a professional activity are examined separately. Data collected in discotheques are analyzed, showing that this type of music is characterized by (a) strong pulsations, the rate of which is approximately 2 Hz; (b) a narrow dynamic range; and (c) a sloping spectrum with maximum energy in the 1/3-octave centered at 63 Hz. This spectrum is almost parallel to the free-field hearing threshold curve raised by 80 dB. Although temporary threshold shift is predictable for different durations of exposure to this type of sound, the long-term risk of permanent threshold shift appears to be very slight for those who are regularly exposed to loud music. An anthropologic approach is proposed with a health education approach to the prevention of hearing loss resulting from amplified music listening.