Table 4.
Hearing in rock musicians and controls with median age and presence of tinnitus
| Rock musicians N = 111 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Count (%) | Median age | Tinnitus* (%) | |
| ≤ 20 dB HL all test frequencies and both ears | 42 (37.8) | 29 | 9 (21.4) |
| > 20 dB HL but ≤ 25 dB HL one ear, the other normal | 22 (19.8) | 30 | 4 (18.2) |
| > 20 dB HL but ≤ 25 dB HL both ears | 7 (6.3) | 30 | 2 (28.2) |
| > 25 dB HL but ≤ 35 dB HL one ear, the other normal | 16 (14.4) | 30 | 3 (18.8) |
| > 25 dB HL but ≤ 35 dB HL both ears | 11 (9.9) | 28 | 2 (18.2) |
| ≥ 35 dB HL one ear, the other ≤ 35 dB HL | 6a (5.4) | 36.5 | 11 (16.7) |
| > 35 dB HL both ears | 7b (6.3) | 36 | 1 (14.3) |
| Controls N = 40 | |||
| Count (%) | Median age | Tinnitus* (%) | |
| ≤ 20 dB HL all test frequencies and both ears | 36 (90) | 26 | 0 (0) |
| > 20 dB HL but ≤ 25 dB HL one ear, the other normal | 2 (5.0) | 27.5 | 0 (0) |
| > 20 dB HL but ≤ 25 dB HL both ears | 1c (2.5) | 35 | 0 (0) |
| > 25 dB HL but ≤ 35 dB HL one ear, the other normal | 1 (2.5) | 30 | 0 (0) |
| > 25 dB HL but ≤ 35 dB HL both ears | – | – | – |
| ≥ 35 dB HL one ear, the other ≤ 35 dB HL | – | – | – |
| > 35 dB HL both ears | – | – | – |
*Permanent tinnitus, a 1 sound technician, 1 roadie, b 1 Cleft palate, c Acoustic trauma during army service, transient tinnitus