Ch 1: The Effect of Noise Flashcards
What are two main causes of hearing loss in the workplace?
-In the workplace, the two main causes of hearing loss are excessive noise exposure and acoustic trauma from blasts or explosions.
What is temporary threshold shift?
- Temporary threshold shift (TTS) is a hearing loss that will recover.
- The rest period required for recovery from moderate noise exposure is usually 12–14 hours.
- A person may have TTS and not be aware of it or the person may notice ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or that sounds are muffled.
- Workers who exhibit TTS are susceptible to the effects of noise and thus permanent noise-induced hearing loss.
- Technicians should consider workers who exhibit TTS as having been overexposed to noise and should try to determine the reason(s) for the threshold shift.
- Recurring temporary threshold shifts generally lead to permanent threshold shift (PTS) and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
What are some characteristics of NIHL? 8
a. NIHL is very gradual and occurs from repeated exposures, sometimes over many years.
b. The first shift in hearing is usually at 4000 Hz and, or, at 6000 Hz (called a notch or dip).
c. Worker not usually aware of the early effects of NIHL until the speech frequencies become involved.
d. NIHL is not painful.
e. People with severe NIHL often have poor pitch discrimination (i.e., difficulty hearing specific sounds when there is extraneous sound).
- People with severe NIHL can also have a symptom known as recruitment (abnormal perception of loudness from one intensity to the next).
f. NIHL is permanent and cannot be corrected with medicines or surgery.
g. Hearing aids do not restore normal hearing to someone with NIHL.
h. NIHL is not evident externally (not visible to others).
What are some of the direct extra-auditory effects of noise?
Noise is a source of stress and the body reacts as it does to other stressful situations. Direct physical effects include increased blood pressure and changes in heart rate, hormone levels, and, or, blood cholesterol. Excessive noise can also cause increased irritability and physical fatigue. It may affect work performance and threaten worker safety.
What do you think are some extra-auditory effects of NIHL?
- It affects interpersonal communication. Workers can lose the ability to communicate in many social situations and, as a result, may become progressively isolated.
- NIHL not only affects individuals physically, it affects them emotionally and socially.
What is the sudden, loud noise from gunfire called?
Impulse or impact noise.
What is the technical term for the sound of ringing in the ear?
Tinnitus.
Name two sources of non-occupational noise that could contribute to hearing loss.
The noise of a chain saw, a hunting rifle, skidoos, motor bikes, and loud music.
Talk to three people who work in a noisy work environment. Two of the people should be more than 50 years old and should have worked in a noisy job for a number of years. Ask them the following questions and record their responses:
- What type of work do you do?
- What noise exposure have you had at work? At home?
- How long have you been exposed to noise?
- Do you think noise is hazardous to your health?
- Are hearing tests conducted at your place of work? If so, have you been told the results?
- Do you have any hearing loss from noise?
- Do you notice any problems with your hearing at home? For example, does anyone complain that you ignore them when they talk to you, or that you always have the television or radio too loud?
- Do you find that if you listen to the radio when going to and from work that you have to adjust the volume by turning it louder on the way home from work and softer on the way to work?
- Do you wear hearing protection when you are in a noisy environment? If so, when did you start wearing it?
- Do you notice any difference in the way you feel after work when you wear hearing protection on the job and when you don’t? For example, do you feel more tired or anxious when you do not wear hearing protection?
