Evaluation of cochlear activity in normal-hearing musicians

The present study compared wave I amplitude of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), a potential indicator of cochlear synaptopathy, among musicians and non-musicians with normal audiograms. Noise exposure background (NEB) was evaluated using an online questionnaire. Two-channel ABRs were recorded from the left ear using click stimuli. One channel utilized an ipsilateral tiptrode, and another channel utilized an ipsilateral mastoid electrode. ABRs were collected at 90, 75, and 60 dBnHL. A mixed model was used to analyze the effect of group, electrodes, and stimulus levels on ABR wave I amplitude. 75 collegiate students with normal hearing participated in the study and were grouped into a non-music major group (n = 25), a brass major group (n = 25), and a voice major group (n = 25). The NEB was negatively associated with the action potential (AP) and ABR wave I amplitude for click intensity levels at 75 dBnHL. The mean amplitude of the ABR wave I was not significantly different between the three groups. The weak negative association of AP and ABR wave I amplitude with NEB cannot be solely attributed to evidence of cochlear synaptopathy in humans as the possibility of hair cell damage cannot be ruled out. Future research should investigate the effects of reduced cochlear output on the supra-threshold speech processing abilities of student musicians. •NEB was a significant predictor of the action potential and ABR wave I amplitude elicited with 75 dBnHL clicks.•Gender was a significant predictor of ABR wave I amplitude elicited with 75 and 60 dBnHL.•AP and ABR wave I amplitudes were not statistically significantly different among the study groups.•ABR wave III and V amplitudes were not statistically significantly different among the study groups.•ABR wave I, III and V latencies were not statistically significantly different among the study groups.