This study investigates the prevalence of music-induced hearing loss (MIHL) among classical musicians, focusing on the prediction of noise-induced permanent threshold shifts (NIPTS). The research is based on measured LEX,8h values obtained by two-channel noise dosimetry for a group of 27 students at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. Based on the LEX,8h measurements, the NIPTS values were calculated according to ISO 1999 over periods ranging from 5 to 40 years. The findings reveal significant lateralization effects, with instruments like the flute and trumpet displaying greater predicted NIPTS in the right ear, indicating an asymmetrical risk of hearing loss based on instrument positioning and sound emission levels. Conversely, instruments producing lower sound pressure levels, such as the harp or viola, showed lower NIPTS values, but still the predicted asymmetries between the right and left ear were substantial. The study underscores the cumulative nature of sound exposure on auditory health, highlighting the need for targeted hearing conservation strategies to protect musicians from the long-term risks of MIHL.
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