Modification of digital music files for use in human temporary threshold shift studies.

An exposure that is reproducible across clinical/laboratory environments, and appealing to subjects, is described here. Digital music files are level-equated within and across songs such that playlists deliver an exposure that is consistent across time. Modified music is more pleasant to listen to than pure tones or shaped noise, and closely follows music exposures subjects may normally experience. Multiple therapeutics reduce noise-induced hearing loss in animals but human trial design is complicated by limited access to noise-exposed subject populations. The development of standard music exposure parameters for temporary threshold shift studies would allow comparison of protection across agents with real-world relevant stimuli in human subjects.