Centennial Honors College
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2014
Poster Presentation
Can you Hear Me Now?
Victoria Kappel and Cally Keefauver
Faculty Mentors: Stacey Macchi and Amy Burke
Communication Sciences and Disorders
WIU marching band students put their hearing at risk every time they expose
themselves to the dangerous noise levels at which the band plays. High levels of noise
exposure for an extended period of time will damage the cochlea of the inner ear which
causes a sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is permanent and
progressive, meaning it can never return to normal. The marching band is not currently
taking any preventative measures to protect their hearing.
This study aims to find a solution which can be implemented within the band to protect
the students’ hearing across all frequencies. We will begin by selecting two students
from various sections of the band for a total of twenty students. We will conduct a Pure
Tone Audiometry evaluation of each participant before the marching band season, after
a marching band practice, and at the end of the marching band season. We will analyze
and compare the results to determine the level of hearing protection needed and to
determine if different sections of the band need different levels of hearing protection.
After discussing with the band on their preferred hearing protection, each participant in
the study will try two different hearing protection methods at two different band
practices.
In the end, we will choose the best method based on if the participants Pure Tone
Averages were helped as a result of wearing the protection during practice and how
highly the participants ranked the overall comfort and satisfaction of the product.