hearing and balance centre: 2011 hearing awareness week - hearing protection: the dangers of noise...
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Patrice Johnson
Hearing Protection: the Dangers of Noise Exposure
Outer ear: Ear canal
Middle ear: Ear drum (tympanic membrane)
Ossicles
Inner ear: CochleaSemi-circular canalsAuditory nerve
The Ear
How we hear
Outer ear: Ear canal
Middle ear: Ear drum (tympanic membrane)
Ossicles
Inner ear: CochleaSemi-circular canalsAuditory nerve
The Ear
How we hear
Outer ear: Ear canal
Middle ear: Ear drum (tympanic membrane)
Ossicles
Inner ear: CochleaSemi-circular canalsAuditory nerve
The Ear
How we hear
Noise
What is noise? Different
sources: Occupational:
Mining Building
industry
Recreational:Personal stereos e.g. Ipods
Power toolsLawn mowersMotor sportsNight clubsConcerts
Risk of damage depends on:
1. Level of noise 2. Time of exposure
(how long and how often)
3. Pitch (frequency) of sounds can also effect the degree of damage. High pitch more damaging.
Noise
How much noise?
Sound at a distance: As the distance is doubled from the sound
source the sound level decreases 6dB SPL As the distance is halved from the sound
source the sound level increases 6dB SPL What does this mean?
Further you are from the noise source, the better
Hearing damage risk is negligible below 75 dB
A vacuum cleaner emits about 85dB
Noise Levels
Exposure Length: For every 3dB louder, the sound is twice as strong so the exposure time should halve.
Safe exposure limit is 85
decibels for eight hours a
day.
100dB = 15min
Cory Portnuff/Dept. of Speech, Language and Hearing Science, University of Colorado; Brian Fligor/Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School
iPods
Cory Portnuff/Dept. of Speech, Language and Hearing Science, University of Colorado; Brian Fligor/Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School
iPod listening time vs % volume
Personal stereos
Ipods at low volumes are fine
Ipods at high volumes for long periods of time can damage your hearing
What happens when sounds are too loud? Causes damage to the hair cells in the
cochlea This means softer sounds may no longer
be transmitted
Cochlear Hair Cells
Healthy Damaged
Permanent
Hearing Loss
The effect of repeated noise exposure on hearing is usually permanent.
Hair cells can not repair themselves. There is no cure for this hearing loss.
Temporary
Hearing Loss
Noise can temporarily cause a hearing loss by “tiring out” the hair cells
First signs: ringing in the ears after noise exposure.
Typical hearing loss from noise exposure
Hearing Loss and Noise Exposure
Ability to hear soft and medium high pitch tones eg. birds, mobile ringing, is lost
Missing beginning or end of a word or sentence
Conversations in a group or busy environment e.g. restaurant, meetings
Difficulties to differentiate similar words Musical difficulties: melody and pitch
discrimination
How high frequency hearing loss impacts hearing
Judging harmful noise levels
1. Noise is as loud or louder than heavy traffic
2. You have to raise your voice to speak to someone 1 metre away
3. Things sound different after you’ve been exposed to noise
4. You hear ringing or other noises in your ears after you’ve been exposed to noise
Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)Can NIHL be detected early? Early signs of temporary hearing loss
Tinnitus Muffled hearing e.g. After a loud concert
Usually goes undetected until it affects the ability to follow conversations in noisy environments e.g. Restaurant
NIHL
Does Noise-Induced Hearing Loss cause Any Pain? Generally no Only very loud sounds such as a bomb result
in pain General loud sounds e.g. lawnmower do not
cause pain, but can result in hearing loss
Impact of Hearing Loss
The Listen Hear! Report (Access Economics February 2006):
Financial cost to Australia of $11.75 billion per annum or 1.4% of GDP
1 in 6 Australians is affected by hearing loss
Expected to increase to 1 in every 4 Australians by 2050
With 36% of hearing loss attributable to excessive noise exposure
Protecting Your Hearing
Avoid loud noises/ music Wear earplugs when exposed to loud
noise/music (eg. Concert and motor races) Loud music can be just as dangerous as
noisy machinery. Balls of cottonwool or paper tissue won’t
protect your hearing. Learn to fit earplugs correctly. Poorly fitted
earplugs offer little protection.
Protecting Your Hearing
Ear Plugs Foam disposable ear plugs Musician’s ear plugs – 3 levels of
attenuation and allow music or voice to be monitored
Noise plugs Ear muffs
Summary
Impact on hearing determined by: How long How loud How often
Avoid loud sounds Use hearing protection
Questions
Any Questions?