Intermittent Exposure to Noise: Effects on Hearing

1983 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 623-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Sataloff ◽  
Robert T. Sataloff ◽  
Raymond A. Yerg ◽  
Hyman Menduke ◽  
Robert P. Gore

Most studies of the effects of noise upon hearing have dealt with continuous noise exposure. Previous reports on intermittent exposure to noise concluded that it causes less damage to hearing than does continuous exposure to noise of the same intensity. In this investigation, 12,000 workers were screened to find 295 subjects who met the strict criteria of the study. Most of the subjects were exposed to jackhammer noise at peak levels of 118 dBA. Intermittent exposure to intense noise results in very severe loss in high frequencies but relatively little or no hearing loss in the lower frequencies even after many years of exposure. This differs substantially from the effects of continuous exposure to noise of the same intensity. It remains to be determined whether this pattern of hearing results from intermittent exposure to all sorts of noise or only from the kinds of sources investigated in this study.

1985 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon M. Abel ◽  
Hans Kunov ◽  
M. Kathleen Pichora-Fuller ◽  
Peter W. Alberti

2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 413-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramzan Ullah ◽  
Neil Bailie ◽  
Sean Crowther ◽  
James Cullen

Noise exposure is one of the major causes of permanent hearing loss in society. Exposure of health service staff to intense levels of noise in the workplace is a potential risk for the development of temporary and permanent hearing loss.In this prospective study, 18 members of the orthopaedic staff underwent hearing assessment by pure tone audiometry and speech discrimination prior to noise exposure at the workplace and immediately following cessation of work. The number of hours of exposure and noise levels in the workplace was also analysed.Only minimal temporary sensorineural threshold shifts were detected post-noise exposure. There was no change in speech discrimination scores and no individuals complained of tinnitus. The number of hours of exposure ranged from 1.5 to 8.5 hours (mean 5.2 hours). Recorded sound levels for instruments ranged from 119.6 dB at source to 73.1 decibels at 3 metres.Although high sound levels are recorded in the orthopaedic operating theatre, the intermittent nature exposure to the intense noise may protect staff against hearing loss, speech discrimination difficulties and tinnitus.


1991 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 1979-1985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek E. Dunn ◽  
Rickie R. Davis ◽  
Carol J. Merry ◽  
John R. Franks

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24
Author(s):  
Vance Gunnell ◽  
Jeff Larsen

Hearing thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were measured for teachers of vocal performance who were gathered for a national conference. Results showed mean audiometric thresholds to be consistent with noise induced hearing loss, more than what would be expected with normal aging. Years of instruction and age were considered as factors in the hearing loss observed. It was concluded that hearing conservation should be initiated with this group to help raise awareness and protect them from hearing loss due to occupational noise exposure.


1978 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 723-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan J. Heffler
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 1216-1224
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Forouzanfar ◽  
Samira Asgharzade

Noise exposure (NE) has been recognized as one of the causes of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which can bring about irreversible damage to sensory hair cells in the cochlea, through the launch of oxidative stress pathways and inflammation. Accordingly, determining the molecular mechanism involved in regulating hair cell apoptosis via NE is essential to prevent hair cell damage. However, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the degeneration of sensory cells of the cochlea during NE has not been so far uncovered. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to demonstrate the regulatory role of miRNAs in the oxidative stress pathway and inflammation induced by NE. In this respect, articles related to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), oxidative stress, inflammation, and miRNA from various databases of Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Google Scholar, PubMed; Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA), and Web of Science were searched and retrieved. The findings revealed that several studies had suggested that up-regulation of miR-1229-5p, miR-451a, 185-5p, 186 and down-regulation of miRNA-96/182/183 and miR-30b were involved in oxidative stress and inflammation which could be used as biomarkers for NIHL. There was also a close relationship between NIHL and miRNAs, but further research is required to prove a causal association between miRNA alterations and NE, and also to determine miRNAs as biomarkers indicating responses to NE.


Author(s):  
David C. Byrne ◽  
Thais C. Morata

Exposure to industrial noise and the resulting effect of occupational hearing loss is a common problem in nearly all industries. This chapter describes industrial noise exposure, its assessment, and hearing disorders that result from overexposure to noise. Beginning with the properties of sound, noise-induced hearing loss and other effects of noise exposure are discussed. The impact of hearing disorders and the influence of other factors on hearing loss are described. Typically, noise-induced hearing loss develops slowly, and usually goes unnoticed until a significant impairment has occurred. Fortunately, occupational hearing loss is nearly always preventable. Therefore, this chapter gives particular attention to recommendations for measures to prevent occupational hearing loss such as engineering noise controls and hearing protection devices.


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