Document Type
Article
Publication Title
A Comparison of Vestibular Function in Young Adult Musicians and Non-musician Peers
Abstract
Purpose: The majority of college-level musicians exceed the daily recommended noise dose level during instrumental practices and performances, although less than one-third report wearing hearing protection while playing their instruments. Although the hazardous effects of music on the auditory system have been established, even in young adult musicians still early in their musical careers, the effects of music on the vestibular system are still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine vestibular/balance differences between young adult musicians and non-musicians to determine the effects of music exposure on the vestibular system.
Method: Young adult participants aged 18-27 years without any history of hearing loss, vestibular/balance disorder, otologic disorder, or nervous system disorder were included in this study. Participants were divided into musician (n = 19) and non-musician (n = 18) groups. Vestibular function was assessed and compared via the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP), ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), video head impulse test (vHIT), and modified clinical test of sensory interaction in balance (mCTSIB).
Results: Musicians were found to produce significantly more saccades in the left horizontal semicircular canal on the vHIT compared to non-musicians. Group differences were not found in the cVEMP, oVEMP, or mCTSIB.
Conclusions: This study shows the effect of music exposure on the vestibular system in young-adult musicians who show early-onset, subclinical findings on the vHIT that could develop into abnormal results on vestibular assessments if hearing protection use is not increased.
Publication Date
12-2-2024
Recommended Citation
Greene, Alexandria W.; Flagge, Ashley G.; and Stanley, Nicholas S., "A Comparison of Vestibular Function in Young Adult Musicians and Non-musician Peers" (2024). Ashley Flagge Publications. 1.
https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/vb_lab-flagge-pubs/1
Included in
Music Performance Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Other Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons, Otolaryngology Commons, Speech and Hearing Science Commons, Speech Pathology and Audiology Commons
Comments
This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Greene, A.W., Flagge, A.G., & Stanley, N.S. (2025). A Comparison of Vestibular Function in Young Adult Musicians and Nonmusician Peers. American Journal of Audiology, 1-9. doi: 10.1044/2024 AJA-24-00203. which is published in its final form at https://pubs.asha.org/doi/abs/10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00203. This article may not be used commercially or be enhanced, enriched, or transformed in any way without permission from the authors and publishers.