top of page

Piano builders as a group of "Professional Ear Users" – Prevention and Treatment of Ear Disorders

- David Bächinger, MD, PhD |

 

Piano builders, as a group of "professional ear users", possess above-average auditory perceptual abilities, which play a crucial role in their everyday professional life. This leads to various special considerations for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ear diseases.


In this seminar, we will discuss basic knowledge about the functioning of the auditory system and the management of ear disorders from the perspective of an ENT doctor. Special attention will also be given to the prevention of ear disorders through dealing with noise, as well as other risk factors such as medication or nicotine. In addition to the educational component of the seminar, recommendations for preventive examinations and access to ear specialist care will be discussed.

The aim of this seminar is to promote comprehensive ear health among piano builders.


© Herbert Halder


About the referee:

David Bächinger, MD, PhD, studied medicine and neurobiology at the University of Zurich with several internships and stays abroad, e.g. in Sydney (Australia). Since 2016 he has been an assistant doctor at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University Hospital Zurich and during this time completed several clinical and scientific stays abroad, e.g. in Bochum (Germany) and Boston (USA). David Bächinger published almost 50 specialist publications with a focus on otology and musicology. He received various national and international awards. In an article written in 2021 together with other ear specialists and specialists from the Zurich University of the Arts, he coined the term "Professional Ear User" (PEU). This term includes all of the professional groups that depend on above-average auditory perception skills in their professional activity. This aspect places special demands on the prevention, diagnostics and treatment of ear diseases, which are currently being worked on in seminars and research projects, and are the focus of a specialized consultation hour for "professional ear users".



bottom of page