ASHA Learning Pass

Young musicians are exposed to traumatic sound levels that might increase their risk for tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Music and noise are known environmental risk factors for tinnitus and NIHL. This course examines a hypothesis that genetic variants might further explain clinical heterogeneity in tinnitus and NIHL. The authors conducted a candidate gene association study to identify genetic factors associated with NIHL and tinnitus in young musicians. Analyses revealed that genetic variants in metabolic enzymes, potassium ion recycling, structural proteins, and oxidative stress regulators revealed statistically significant association with NIHL. A genetic variant in KCNE1 showed significant association with tinnitus. Results suggest a confluence of genetic and non-genetic risk factors can predict susceptibility to NIHL and tinnitus in young musicians.

This course is a recorded technical research session from the 2021 ASHA Convention Virtual Library (session 4624V).

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• Describe the environmental and lifestyle-related risk factors for tinnitus in young musicians
• Describe the environmental and lifestyle-related risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss in young musicians
• List the genetic variants associated with tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss in young musicians

Presenter Information

Dr. Ishan Bhatt (Presenting Author) is the director of the AudioGenomics Research Laboratory at the University of Iowa. His current research is aimed to identify the genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors influencing tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss.

Financial Disclosures:

• None

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Nilesh Washnik (Non-Presenting Author) currently works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Ohio University, Athens. Nilesh received his PhD in Audiology from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. His areas of research are Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), Noise Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy (NICS), and hearing conservation. He is the founder and director of the Hearing Conservation in Student Musicians (HCSM) Program at Ohio University.

Financial Disclosures:

• None

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• None

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete the learning assessment by June 20, 2027. 

Program History and CE Information

Content origination date: November 2021
End date: June 20, 2027

This course is offered for 0.05 ASHA CEUs (Advanced level, Professional area).

Related Courses

View more sessions from the 2021 ASHA Convention, available exclusively in the ASHA Learning Pass.