Open Access
Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2013; 17(01): 020-025
DOI: 10.7162/S1809-97772013000100004
Original Article
Thieme Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Exposure to classroom sound pressure level among dance teachers in Porto Alegre (RS)

Cristiane Nehring
1   Student of Speech Therapy and Audiology. Scientific Initiation Scholarship BIC-UFRGS.
,
Magda Aline Bauer
2   Masters in Communication Disorder. Speech therapist at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
,
Adriane Ribeiro Teixeira
3   PhD in Biomedical Gerontology. Adjunct Professor of Audiology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
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Publikationsverlauf

23. August 2012

22. Oktober 2012

Publikationsdatum:
06. Januar 2014 (online)

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Summary

Introduction: Dance teachers are exposed to high sound intensities.

Aim: To verify the sound intensity of music used by dance teachers during classes.

Method: This was a transversal and prospective study. Dance teachers were evaluated with a sociodemographic questionnaire, and sound intensity level measurements were taken at the beginning, middle, and end of dance classes.

Results: The sample comprised 35 teachers (average age, 31.8 years). The duration of their career as dance teachers was 1–37 years; they worked daily for approximately 1–10 h. Among the classes followed, there were 15 (42.85%) classical ballet classes, 4 (11.42%) tap dancing lessons, 5 (14.28%) jazz dance classes, 2 (5.71) Arab dance lessons, 6 (17.14%) street dance classes, and 3 (8.57%) ballroom dancing lessons. The average values observed at the beginning, middle, and end of the classes were 80.91 dB (A), 83.22 dB (A), and 85.19 dB (A), respectively. The music played in the street dance classes exposed teachers to the highest sound intensity.

Conclusion: The average level of sound intensity of the dance classes in this study was either below or equal to the limit considered harmful for hearing health. Analysis of different class types showed that the sound densities of street, ballroom, and tap dance classes were above the recommended limits.