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Hearing Loss/Presbycusis
Published in Charles Theisler, Adjuvant Medical Care, 2023
Noise-induced hearing loss from regular activities such as target shooting, snowmobile riding, listening to music at high volume, or attending loud concerts can cause ear damage and hearing loss. The best preventatives are to wear protective earmuffs/ earplugs, avoid loud noises, or to turn down the volume, if possible.3
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published in R James A England, Eamon Shamil, Rajeev Mathew, Manohar Bance, Pavol Surda, Jemy Jose, Omar Hilmi, Adam J Donne, Scott-Brown's Essential Otorhinolaryngology, 2022
Linnea Cheung, David M. Baguley, Andrew McCombe
NIHL is a preventable health condition. Employers have a statutory duty under the Health and Safety Work Act 1974 to minimise risks to employees from excessive noise exposure. The Noise at Work Regulations 1989 were superseded by the European Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 to describe action levels at 80 and 85 dB(A) for daily personal noise exposure, and a peak action level of 135 dB(A). At these levels, the employer has a responsibility to conduct noise surveys and provide employees with hearing protection as well as regular hearing assessments and a programme of employee education. These actions are compulsory when noise levels reach ≥85 dB(A). Personal hearing protection can be in the form of earplugs or earmuffs; earmuffs are more reliable. Electronic active noise reduction (ANR) systems are effective but expensive and are most commonly used in military and aircraft environments.
Ear trauma
Published in S. Musheer Hussain, Paul White, Kim W Ah-See, Patrick Spielmann, Mary-Louise Montague, ENT Head & Neck Emergencies, 2018
Ear defenders can prevent acoustic trauma: ear protection in the form of ear plugs or earmuffs is nowadays a legal requirement in industries with high background noise levels. Industries should also ensure employees are exposed to a maximum daily noise level of 85 dB(A) for less than 8 hours. In those with permanent SNHL, hearing aids should be considered.
Calibration and initial validation of a low-cost computer-based screening audiometer coupled to consumer insert phone-earmuff combination for boothless audiometry
Published in International Journal of Audiology, 2022
Kumar Seluakumaran, Majdina N. Shaharudin
Only one consumer IP out of potentially hundreds was assessed in this study. The electroacoustic properties and calibration values will differ from one earphone to another. If a different IP is utilised, it should ideally have a high input/output accuracy, minimal distortions, and an appropriate impedance level (< 50 Ohms). Although a higher impedance can offer lower electrical noise, portable electronic devices may not be able to provide sufficient driving power to these earphones. It is also best to avoid IPs with active noise cancellation or wireless features unless an acceptable floor noise and a consistent output can be verified. Also, the IP should have ear tips that fit firmly onto the ear canal and a small driver head that could be placed underneath an earmuff. The chosen earmuff should provide adequate headband force for tight-fitting and have circumaural ear cups that fully cover the ears, while leaving enough room for the IP placement. Finally, if threshold measurements down to 0 dB HL is required, the IP should be coupled to a good quality external sound card (at least 24-bit resolution).
How an Age Simulation Suit affects Motor and Cognitive Performance and Self-perception in Younger Adults
Published in Experimental Aging Research, 2020
Janine Vieweg, Sabine Schaefer
As an Age Simulation Suit, the model GERT (see Figure 1) from Moll (2019b) was used. This suit is designed to simulate consequences of physical aging on multiple dimensions. Reduced sensory acuity and tactile perception, by wearing disposable plastic gloves, and reductions in vision and hearing are intended. Colored glasses narrow the field of vision and create a blurry image. The earmuffs affect hearing, especially for higher frequencies. Bandages on elbows, knees and wrists should reduce flexibility and range of motion of these joints. The plastic gloves and the fingerless leather gloves restrict the grip ability and agility of the fingers. Note that the leather gloves only partially cover the fingers so as not to interfere with the reduced tactile perception simulated by the plastic gloves worn under the leather. A neck ruff leads to decreased agility of the head. Additional weights, 1.5 kg on each wrist, 2.3 kg on each ankle and a 10 kg upper-body-vest, affect strength and coordination abilities. Decreased balancing ability and insecure standing and gait are intended by wearing overshoes, with a 1.5 cm thick soft foam sole (see Figure 1).
Noise exposures of sugar cane mill workers in Guatemala
Published in International Journal of Audiology, 2020
Ashley M. Stumpf, Grant Erlandson, Jennifer Ruths, Deanna K. Meinke, Lee S. Newman, Lyndsay Krisher, Daniel Pilloni, Alex Cruz, Claudia Asensio
Guatemalan noise regulations are an example of this progress. Initially, one of the only mentions of “noise” in Guatemala regulations was found in Convention 148 of the ILO, ratified in 1996 (Arenas and Suter 2014). Convention 148 stated, “the term noise covers all sound which can result in hearing impairment or be harmful to health or otherwise dangerous” (International Labour Organization C148, 1977). While the document acknowledges that certain noises may damage the auditory system, the level of noise that puts a worker at risk was never quantified. Conversely, in the most updated version of this legislation published in 2014, it is directly stated that hearing protection (earplugs or earmuffs) are mandatory in areas of the workplace where sound levels exceed 85 dBA (GMLSW 2014). In areas where noise levels reach 100 dBA, workers are required to wear earmuffs. Furthermore, it is stated that the employer must make an effort to control the source of noise, offer hearing protection free of charge, and provide routine inspection of hearing protection (GMLSW 2014).