Changes in Auditory Performance Following a Virtual Reality Music Concert.
Sarah K Grinn, Dana E Notaro, Jatinder K Shokar and 1 others
PMID 39420452WHAT IT FOUND
Thirty-one young adults with normal hearing experienced a 90-minute VR music concert through a headset.
They showed slight temporary threshold shifts of 1 to 3 dB at 4, 8, and 12.5 kHz, but no change in hearing in noise or otoacoustic emissions.
Key findings
01Immediately after the VR concert, participants had statistically significant temporary threshold shifts at 4 kHz (1.57 dB HL worse), 8 kHz (2.26 dB HL worse), and 12.5 kHz (1.93 dB HL worse).
02There were no statistically significant differences in distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) or Words-in-Noise (WIN) test scores immediately after the VR concert.
03The VR concert exposure resulted in a noise dose of 4.4%, which is well below the daily recommended limit, yet still produced slight threshold shifts.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was likely underpowered to detect very small effects. Only one specific VR headset model (Meta Quest 2) was tested, so results may not generalize to other devices. Extended high-frequency audiometry (16-20 kHz) was not reported due to poor reliability and lack of response in many participants. The significance of the 12.5 kHz shift at follow-up is uncertain and may be spurious due to test-retest variability in extended high-frequency audiometry.
Declared interests
Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIDCD), Central Michigan University Faculty and Creative Endeavors Research Grant, and the Central Michigan University Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the slight threshold shifts as evidence of permanent hearing damage or functional communication impairment. The changes were temporary, small (1-3 dB), and did not affect hearing in noise performance. However, the finding that a 'low dose' exposure caused shifts warrants caution regarding frequent or prolonged VR use.