Occupational Hearing Loss from Non-Gaussian Noise
Suter, Alice
Occupational Hearing Loss from Non-Gaussian Noise
Noise levels are truly continuous in relatively few occupations,
with some degree of intermittency the mostcommoncondition. Thesound
levels of intermittent noise are often referred to as non-Gaussian in that
they are not normally distributed in the time domain. In some conditions,
intermittent noise affects the ear differently from continuous noise, and it is
this assumption that underlies the selection of the 5-dB exchange rate
(ER). The scientific and professional communities have debated this
assumption over recent decades. This monograph explores the effect of
non-Gaussian noise on the auditory system. It begins by summarizing an
earlier report by the same author concentrating on the subject of the ER.
The conclusions of the earlier report supported themore conservative 3-dB
ER with possible adjustments to the permissible exposure limit for certain
working conditions. The current document has expanded on the earlier
report in light of the relevant research accomplished in the intervening
decades. Although some of the animal research has supported the
mitigating effect of intermittency, a closer look at many of these studies
reveals certain weaknesses, along with the fact that these noise exposures
were not usually representative of the conditions under which people
actually work. The more recent animal research on complex noise shows
that intermittencies do not protect the cochlea and that many of the
previous assumptions about the ameliorative effect of intermittencies are no
longer valid, lending further support to the 3-dB ER. The neurologic
effects of noise on hearing have gained increasing attention in recent years
because of improvements in microscopy and immunostaining techniques.
Animal experiments showing damage to auditory synapses from noise
exposures previously considered harmless may signify the need for a more
conservative approach to the assessment of noise-induced hearing loss and
consequently the practice of hearing conservation programs.
Occupational Hearing Loss from Non-Gaussian Noise
Noise levels are truly continuous in relatively few occupations,
with some degree of intermittency the mostcommoncondition. Thesound
levels of intermittent noise are often referred to as non-Gaussian in that
they are not normally distributed in the time domain. In some conditions,
intermittent noise affects the ear differently from continuous noise, and it is
this assumption that underlies the selection of the 5-dB exchange rate
(ER). The scientific and professional communities have debated this
assumption over recent decades. This monograph explores the effect of
non-Gaussian noise on the auditory system. It begins by summarizing an
earlier report by the same author concentrating on the subject of the ER.
The conclusions of the earlier report supported themore conservative 3-dB
ER with possible adjustments to the permissible exposure limit for certain
working conditions. The current document has expanded on the earlier
report in light of the relevant research accomplished in the intervening
decades. Although some of the animal research has supported the
mitigating effect of intermittency, a closer look at many of these studies
reveals certain weaknesses, along with the fact that these noise exposures
were not usually representative of the conditions under which people
actually work. The more recent animal research on complex noise shows
that intermittencies do not protect the cochlea and that many of the
previous assumptions about the ameliorative effect of intermittencies are no
longer valid, lending further support to the 3-dB ER. The neurologic
effects of noise on hearing have gained increasing attention in recent years
because of improvements in microscopy and immunostaining techniques.
Animal experiments showing damage to auditory synapses from noise
exposures previously considered harmless may signify the need for a more
conservative approach to the assessment of noise-induced hearing loss and
consequently the practice of hearing conservation programs.