The COMPRESSED project is a descriptive, bi-centric and non-invasive study carried out by the CERIAH - IDA - Institut Pasteur and the Haute École Léonard de Vinci in Brussels on volunteer participants identified in two groups :

• be subject to high exposure to compressed sound, as defined by professional participation in events on broadcast platforms using sound signal processing systems, over the last 3 years,
• be subject to moderate or limited exposure to compressed and manipulated sound, equivalent to that of a student following certain distance learning courses. on a videoconferencing platform, alternating with other face-to-face courses, with the ability to listen during breaks, which have been taught for a maximum of 2 years.

The main objective of the COMPRESSED study is to evaluate the auditory effects of exposure to manipulated sounds (compression, filtering, equalisation, accentuation, etc.) from sound distribution platforms on the auditory system of participants who are regularly exposed to these sounds as a result of their professional activity.

Inclusion Criteria:

For all participants:

• Age 18 or over,
• Work with platforms using sound signal processing systems,
• Fluent in English,
• Fluent in French,
• Declare that they have no hearing loss.

For participants in the high exposure group:

- Have had a professional activity over the last three years using broadcasting platforms with sound signal processing systems,

For participants in the moderate or limited exposure group:

- Have worked between one semester and two years with platforms using sound signal processing systems.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Conductive or mixed hearing loss, i.e. where the hearing loss affects both the outer and/or middle ear and the inner ear.
• Have an asymmetric hearing loss, i.e. a difference in average hearing loss between the left and right ear of more than 20 dB,
• Have a history of otitis and/or an ENT disease that permanently affects hearing (vestibular schwannoma, Ménière's disease, sudden or fluctuating deafness, congenital hypoacusis),
• Not fluent in English
• Be under guardianship,
• Deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision, or subject to legal protection.

Subjects with sustained exposure to compressed sounds, as defined by professional participation in broadcast platform events using sound signal processing systems, over the last 3 years, Or Subjects with moderate or limited exposure to compressed and manipulated sound, equivalent to that of a student taking distance-learning courses on a videoconferencing platform, alternating with other face-to-face courses, with the possibility of pauses in listening, exposed for a maximum of 2 years.