Nilesh J Washnik1, Ishan Sunilkumar Bhatt2, Susan L Phillips3, Denise Tucker3, Scott Richter4. 1. Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Ohio University, United States. Electronic address: washnik@ohio.edu. 2. Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Iowa, United States. 3. Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States. 4. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The present study compared wave I amplitude of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), a potential indicator of cochlear synaptopathy, among musicians and non-musicians with normal audiograms. DESIGN: Noise exposure background (NEB) was evaluated using an online questionnaire. Two-channel ABRs were recorded from the left ear using click stimuli. One channel utilized an ipsilateral tiptrode, and another channel utilized an ipsilateral mastoid electrode. ABRs were collected at 90, 75, and 60 dBnHL. A mixed model was used to analyze the effect of group, electrodes, and stimulus levels on ABR wave I amplitude. STUDY SAMPLE: 75 collegiate students with normal hearing participated in the study and were grouped into a non-music major group (n = 25), a brass major group (n = 25), and a voice major group (n = 25). RESULTS: The NEB was negatively associated with the action potential (AP) and ABR wave I amplitude for click intensity levels at 75 dBnHL. The mean amplitude of the ABR wave I was not significantly different between the three groups. CONCLUSION: The weak negative association of AP and ABR wave I amplitude with NEB cannot be solely attributed to evidence of cochlear synaptopathy in humans as the possibility of hair cell damage cannot be ruled out. Future research should investigate the effects of reduced cochlear output on the supra-threshold speech processing abilities of student musicians.
OBJECTIVE: The present study compared wave I amplitude of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), a potential indicator of cochlear synaptopathy, among musicians and non-musicians with normal audiograms. DESIGN: Noise exposure background (NEB) was evaluated using an online questionnaire. Two-channel ABRs were recorded from the left ear using click stimuli. One channel utilized an ipsilateral tiptrode, and another channel utilized an ipsilateral mastoid electrode. ABRs were collected at 90, 75, and 60 dBnHL. A mixed model was used to analyze the effect of group, electrodes, and stimulus levels on ABR wave I amplitude. STUDY SAMPLE: 75 collegiate students with normal hearing participated in the study and were grouped into a non-music major group (n = 25), a brass major group (n = 25), and a voice major group (n = 25). RESULTS: The NEB was negatively associated with the action potential (AP) and ABR wave I amplitude for click intensity levels at 75 dBnHL. The mean amplitude of the ABR wave I was not significantly different between the three groups. CONCLUSION: The weak negative association of AP and ABR wave I amplitude with NEB cannot be solely attributed to evidence of cochlear synaptopathy in humans as the possibility of hair cell damage cannot be ruled out. Future research should investigate the effects of reduced cochlear output on the supra-threshold speech processing abilities of student musicians.
Authors: Kamakshi V Gopal; Kris Chesky; Elizabeth A Beschoner; Paul D Nelson; Bradley J Stewart Journal: Noise Health Date: 2013 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 0.867