Madeline Kelly (on the left) is inserting the yellow silicone blend into the participants ear canal (on the right) using a plastic syringe. This will make an ear impression to later create the custom-made ear protection.
Author: Madeline Kelly | Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders
During the Fall semester of 2021, I began research assessing tinnitus in the Razorback Marching Band (RMB) members with my mentor, Dr. Margie Gilbertson, and the RMB band director, Dr. Benjamin Lorenzo. The goal of the research was to examine if the use of custom-made ear protection would affect the RMB members’ reports of tinnitus, a disorder that causes constant ringing, buzzing, or humming sounds in the ears. The research provided RMB members with silicone custom-made ear protection with musician’s filters to use during all rehearsals and performances throughout the semester.
In an ensemble, musicians are exposed to various frequencies at high intensity levels. Noise-induced hearing loss is known to be associated with tinnitus in musicians. The prevention of hearing loss is the best way to prevent the occurrence of tinnitus. Therefore, regular use of ear protection to prevent hearing loss may impact the frequency and/or severity of reported tinnitus in these young adults.
In the Fall semester of 2019, I was enrolled in the introductory course for Communication Sciences and Disorders. This course was the first time I was introduced to audiology, and it had sparked my interest. During the first meeting with Dr. Gilbertson, we discussed completing research examining the effects of tinnitus in the RMB members before and after the use of custom-made ear protection. The research caught my interest because I played the mellophone in the marching band throughout high school and experience tinnitus as a result. Since I was personally affected by my own experience in a marching band, I wanted to help raise awareness about noise-induced hearing loss and provide complimentary custom-made ear protection to the RMB members. I wanted to assess tinnitus in the band members before and after the use of ear protection.
Band directors encourage their students to use ear protection, but students usually purchase standard earplugs. While this type of ear protection will benefit the musician, they are often uncomfortable. They reportedly distort the music and fall out easily, resulting in many musicians discontinuing use of their ear protection. With the research conducted in this project, the ear protection will be molded to the ear canal of each RMB member who participates. It will result in a custom-fit earmold that is more comfortable to wear while remaining securely in the ear canal. Each pair of ear protection will have an etymonic ER-15 filter embedded in the silicon mold, decreasing the noise-exposure by 20 decibels so that RMB members can hear the music without distortion.
Working on the research, I learned how to professionally communicate with participants, faculty members, and a group of other Communication Sciences and Disorders students. I have never been one to take much initiative growing up and often looked to others; however, working on this research, I was able to gain confidence as a leader. I received knowledge on different diagnostic technologies in the field of audiology, as well as learned how to create ear impressions. Dr. Gilbertson has mentored me throughout the research, especially while working with RMB members at the University of Arkansas Speech and Hearing Clinic in Epley for Health Professionals. She has taught me how to create ear mold impressions, make referrals, and use different technologies, such as video otoscopy, different portable audiometers, and insert headphones.
Dr. Gilbertson plans to continue this research with future Communication Sciences and Disorders honor students adding new aspects to the research, and I plan to continue researching the effects of tinnitus in future studies. I am graduating from the University of Arkansas in the Spring of 2022. I hope to enroll in graduate school to receive my Clinical Doctorate in Audiology, where I will be able to work in a clinical setting with patients who have hearing loss. The ability to work on this research with Dr. Gilbertson has given me knowledge that I feel will benefit me continuing on the path to becoming a certified audiologist.