Assessment of Hearing Loss in Iranian Professional Pop Singers through the Soundlog and Temporary Hearing Loss Test Softwares

Noise induced hearing loss is a sensory-neural phenomenon which happens slowly due to continued or alternative sound exposure. Singers are one of the working groups who are at the risk of hearing loss. This study aimed to assess the hearing loss of Iranian professional pop singers. In this study, two SoundLog and Temporary Hearing Loss Test softwares have been used to measure temporary threshold shift (TTS), level of sound (LAeq), maximum level of sound, as well as the level of equivalent sound in 8 hours (LAeq, 8h) with and without hearing protection device (HPD). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 18 software. All stages of this research were conducted ethically. The sound level, maximum sound level and equivalent level of sound in 8 hours without using hearing protection equipment and by using hearing protection equipment were 84.3 ± 9.6 and 86.7 ± 7.1; 118.9 ± 2.8 and 120.7 ± 2.7 and 78.4 ± 8.9 and 82.5± 5.8, respectively. Also, the hearing loss level in the sample was 2.4 ± 7.1 and 0 db, according to the intervention. The results indicated the applicability of the programs. Therefore, without the need for an expert, a person can understand the sound exposure level during his performance. Thus, these tools, suitable personal protective equipment and continuous monitoring will lead to early detection of hearing loss in these groups.