Musician earplugs: Appreciation and protection

Recreational music exposure is a potential risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Augmented hearing protectors have been designed with modified attenuation characteristics to combine hearing protection and listening comfort. However, to date, only a few independent studies have assessed the performance of those augmented protectors in realistic exposure conditions. This study compares the listening experience and temporary effects on cochlear status with different types of earplugs after exposure to contemporary club music. Five different types of commercially available hearing protectors were worn, all commonly used during leisure-time music exposure. Four of them were augmented premolded earplugs and the fifth type was an inexpensive, standard earplug frequently distributed for free at music events. During five different test sessions of 30 min each, participants not professionally involved in music wore one particular type of protector. Contemporary club music was played at sound pressure levels (SPLs) representative of concerts and bars. After each listening session, a questionnaire on sound quality and general appreciation was completed. In addition, otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) were measured directly before and after music exposure. The reported appreciation clearly differed depending on the addressed characteristics and the specific earplug type. In this test group, the reported appreciation mainly depended on comfort and looks, while differences in sound quality were less noticeable. The changes in OAE amplitude before and after noise exposure were small in terms of clinical standards. Nevertheless, the observed temporary shifts differed systematically for the different types of hearing protectors, with two types of musician earplug showing a more systematic decline than the others. Further research with respect to actual use and achieved protection for real, unsupervised music exposure is warranted.     

Hyposelenaemia: patients with gastrointestinal diseases are at risk

A retrospective study of serum selenium determinations performed in a hospital laboratory revealed 47 cases of hyposelenaemia (defined as a serum selenium level below 0.74 mumol l-1). Moderate hyposelenaemia (serum selenium 0.30-0.55 mumol l-1) was found in 11 patients and seven of these suffered from gastrointestinal diseases. Furthermore severe hyposelenaemia (serum selenium below 0.30 mumol l-1) was detected in three patients, who were all affected by gastrointestinal disease. We concluded that patients with gastrointestinal diseases are especially at risk of developing selenium deficiency and should be monitored by repeated determinations of serum selenium. Patients with moderate or severe hyposelenaemia should receive selenium treatment.     

Nasal airflow and resistance measured by active anterior rhinomanometry in healthy children and adolescents

Rhinomanometry allows objective assessment of nasal patency in pediatric patients with nasal and other respiratory problems. However, no reliable reference values are available in the pediatric age group. We measured nasal inspiratory airflow and nasal inspiratory resistance of the right and left nostrils (V'nar, V'nal, Rnar, and Rnal) and total nasal inspiratory flow and resistance (V'na and Rna) at a transnasal pressure of 150 Pa during quiet breathing in healthy children with a closed mouth by using active anterior rhinomanometry. Cross-sectional measurements were done in 192 healthy Caucasian children and adolescents free of nasal or other respiratory diseases (age, 2-19 years; body height, 94-190 cm; 95 boys and 97 girls). The values of V'na, V'nar, and V'nal increased significantly with an increase of body height or age (P<0.0001). Rna, Rnar, and Rnal significantly decreased with an increase of body height and age (P<0.0001). No significant statistical differences were found between boys and girls (P=0.11) or between right and left nostrils (P=0.07). V'nar and Rnar comprised 50.1%, and V'nal and Rnal 49.9%, of total V'na and Rna, respectively. Best-fit regression equations relating rhinomanometric parameters and body height or age were power functions. We obtained reference regression equations with upper and lower limits, and prepared tables listing reference (normal) values of rhinomanometric parameters in healthy pediatric Caucasian patients, against which patients with nasal obstruction can be compared.     

NORMATIVE VALUES FOR THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREENTM IN ADOLESCENT SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN

Background

International sports programs have established pre‐participation athletic screening procedures as an essential component to identify athletes that are at a high risk of becoming injured. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) is a screening instrument intended to evaluate deficiencies in the mobility and stability of an athlete that might be linked to injury. To date, there are no published normative values for the FMS™ in adolescent school aged children. The purpose of this study was to establish normative values for the FMS™ in adolescent school aged children (10 to 17 years). Secondary aims were to investigate whether the performance differed between boys and girls and between those with or without previous history of injury.

Methods

1005 adolescent school students, including both males and females between the ages of 10 and 17 years who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were selected for the study. The test administration procedures, instructions and scoring process associated with the standardized version of the test were followed in order to ensure accuracy in scoring. The components of the FMS™ include the deep squat, hurdle step, in‐line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push up, and rotary stability.

Results

The mean composite FMS™ score was 14.59 (CI 14.43 ‐ 14.74) out of a possible total of 21. There was a statistically significant difference in scores between females and males (p= .000). But no statistically significant difference in scores existed between those who reported a previous injury and those who did not report previous injury (p=.300). The variables like age (r= ‐.038, p=.225), height(r= .065, p= .040), weight (r=.103, p=.001) did not show a strong correlations with the mean composite score.

Conclusion

This study provides normative values for the FMS™ in adolescent school aged children, which could assist in evaluation of functional mobility and stability in this population.

Level of evidence

2c