Assessment of noise level and risk of hearing loss among taiko musicians

INTRODUCTION: taiko music is performed with specific drums, which produce loud and low-tone sounds that can potentially lead to hearing risk. OBJECTIVES: To assess sound pressure levels and hearing safety of musicians who play in taiko groups. METHODS: Using a decibel meter, noise exposure was measured in two different groups (group 1 and group 2), which are divided into categories: (group 1 = five categories - junior, free, general a, general b, and master, and group 2 = two categories - adult and child). The calculation of the daily noise dose was based on the Brazilian Occupational Hygiene Standard 01, which establishes the following classification: acceptable dose (between 0 and 50%), above the action level (50 to 80%), uncertain dose level (80 to 100%), and above the acceptable level (more than 100%). RESULTS: In group 1 categories, the daily noise doses obtained were: junior = 88%; general B = 423%; master = 218%; general A = 370%, and free = 150%. In the adult and children categories of group 2, the results were 127 and 17%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: taiko musicians are exposed to daily noise doses above the safe level, except for the junior categories in group 1, and the children, in group 2 - which showed daily noise doses at an uncertain dose level, and at an acceptable level, respectively.