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PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of socio-economic status on adolescent attitude to social noise and hearing protection.

The focus of the present study, of 1285 adolescents, was young people's attitudes towards noise and their use of hearing protection at discos and pop concerts. Comparisons were made between adolescents from different age groups, and with different socio-economic status. Logistic regressions indicated that "worry before attending noisy activities" and "hearing symptoms" such as tinnitus and noise sensitivity could, to some degree, explain the use of hearing protection in noisy environments. Another conclusion to be drawn from this study was that adolescents' attitudes and behaviours regarding hearing protection use differed between levels of socio-economic status. Individuals with high SES expressed more negative attitudes and used ear protection to a greater extent than those with lower SES. This result might indicate differences in the development of future auditory problems among individuals with different levels of socio-economic status. The cause of hearing impairment and tinnitus may not be restricted merely to noise exposure. Psychological aspects, such as attitudes towards noisy environments and the individual's behaviour regarding the use of hearing protection may be considered as important factors in the understanding of why the prevalence of hearing related problems has increased among adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Effectiveness of ear protection in reducing anxiety during cast removal in children.

We studied the effect of wearing ear protection on 100 children undergoing cast removal. Pulse rate (PR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) increases during cast removal were used as physiologic indicators of anxiety. One goal was to determine whether children of various ages are less anxious when wearing ear protection during cast removal. Another goal was to determine whether previous cast removal affects anxiety reactions. Results with children of all ages combined showed that PR increases were significantly lower for those who wore ear protection (P = .04). When wearing ear protection, children up to 6 years old had 9.7% lower PR increases, and 7- to 12-year-olds had 8.8% lower PR increases, but 13- to 17-year-olds had 4.5% higher PR increases. No differences were noted among the groups with respect to MAP increases. There were no significant differences between children who had a cast removed previously and children who were having a cast removed for the first time. Children younger than 13 seemed to benefit the most from wearing ear protection during cast removal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A new generation of U.S. Army flight helmets.

Head injuries are the most common cause of fatal injury in helicopter crashes. For over 80 years, the U.S. Army has used crash investigation studies to redesign flight helmets. This paper describes the evolution of the new fielded U.S. Army helmet, the Sound Protection Helmet No. 4B (SPH-4B), and compares its protective features to its predecessors, especially the SPH-4. A major contribution to the helmet design process was made by the Aviation Life Support Equipment Retrieval Program (ALSERP), a functional program at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL). ALSERP has analyzed more than 500 helmets involved in crash events since 1972. Based on these studies of critical safety factors, the Army has developed and deployed the SPH-4B, a new helmet with improved energy absorption, retention, and stability.

Craniocerebral Trauma↗
PubMed2005

[A new type of active noise cancellation earmuffs].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a new type of feedback active noise cancellation earmuff (ANCE) for aviator's helmet. METHOD: A mathematical model of such a structure was established based on frequency response function and automatic control theory. The method and role for designing ANCE controllers were summarized and the optimum design method was used for designing the controllers. RESULT: The acoustic components and simulation circuit were well matched. One of the prototype can attenuate the noise more than 15 dB in the frequency range of 50-2000 Hz (19 dB at the highest). CONCLUSION: The noise cancellation value of this earmuff has achieved international level and it can be mass-produced.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed2005

Pressure-equalizing earplugs do not prevent barotrauma on descent from 8000 ft cabin altitude.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pressure-equalizing earplugs available in major airports and drugstores. No previous study has focused on preventing barotrauma using these earplugs. METHODS: Blinded and double-blinded, one type of pressure-equalizing earplugs (JetEars) was studied in 27 volunteers disposed to ear barotrauma. They acted as their own controls with an active earplug in one ear and a placebo earplug in the other ear at random. All were exposed to the same well-defined pressure profile for 1 h at 8000 ft, comparable to the environment in civil commercial air travel in a pressurized cabin. Satisfaction was assessed by questionnaire and objective results were evaluated prior to and after the pressure exposure by tympanometry and otoscopy using the Teed classification. RESULTS: The majority of the volunteers (78%) reported a pleasant noise-reducing feeling using the earplugs. However, 75% also experienced ear pain during descent. In comparing the middle ear pressure before and after pressurization, a decrease was found in ears with both active earplugs and placebo earplugs. No difference between the active and the placebo earplugs were found. Furthermore, after evaluation of the two groups of ears using otoscopy, no prevention of barotrauma was found. In fact, the ears using an active pressure-equalizing earplug scored significantly worse (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Feelings of noise reduction were reported, but no prevention of barotrauma could be demonstrated with the use of pressure-equalizing earplugs. Pressure-equalizing earplugs cannot be recommended in air travel for preventing ear barotrauma.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed2006

Comparative observation of protective effects of earplug and barrel on auditory organs of guinea pigs exposed to experimental blast underpressure.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects of earplug and barrel on auditory organs of guinea pigs exposed to experimental blast underpressure (BUP). METHODS: The hearing thresholds of the guinea pigs were assessed with auditory brainstem responses (ABR). The traumatic levels of tympanic membrane and ossicular chain were observed under stereo-microscope. The rate of outer hair cells (OHCs) loss was analyzed using a light microscope. The changes of guinea pigs protected with barrel and earplug were compared with those of the control group without any protection. RESULTS: An important ABR threshold shift of the guinea pigs without any protection was detected from 8h to 14d after being exposed to BUP with a peak ranging from -64.5 kPa to -69.3 kPa ( P<0.01). The rate of perforation of tympanic membrane reached 87.5% and that of total OHCs loss was 19.46% +/- 5.38% at 14d after exposure. The guinea pigs protected with barrel and earplug had lower ABR threshold and total OHCs loss rate compared with the animals without any protection (P<0.01). All of the tympanic membrane and ossicular chain of the protected animals maintained their integrities. Meanwhile, the guinea pigs protected with the barrel had lower ABR threshold and total OHCs loss rate than those with earplug (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The earplug and barrel have protective effects against BUP-induced trauma on auditory organs of the guinea pigs and the protective effects of barrel are better than those of earplug.

Animals↗