Application of frequency and time domain kurtosis to the assessment of complex, time varying noise exposures.
Authors
Lei-SF; Ahroon-WA; Hamernik-RP
Source
Scientific basis of noise-induced hearing loss. Axelsson A, Borchgrevink HM, Hamernik RP, Hellstrom PA, Henderson D, Salvi RJ, eds. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 1996 May; :213-228
Abstract
Noise measurements made for the purpose of hearing conservation practice have, as their objective, the extraction of some physical metric from the noise that can be used to estimate the hazards to hearing from prolonged exposure to that noise. In many industrial environments, the conventional variables used to characterize noise exposure such as sound pressure level (SPL) and spectrum vary considerably from moment to moment over an eight-hour work day. The noise typically consists of a time-varying continuous background noise with varying superimposed impulsive or other transient components (Dym et al. 1). Despite similar SPL and spectra the complex noises can vary appreciably in their statistical properties and can produce different amounts and frequency distributions of hearing loss in exposed individuals. Demographic data (passchier-Vermeer2, Sulkowski et al. 3, Taylor et al. 4, Thiery and Meyer-Bisch5) have shown that non-Gaussian noise exposures are more hazardous to hearing than are Gaussian noises of similar Leg. Current practice relies primarily on measures such as the A-weighted Leg' a metric which completely ignores the temporal characteristics of an exposure. The role of temporal variables has been most recently emphasized in studies using interrupted noise exposure paradigms or pre exposure priming noises (Henderson et al. 5, Hamernik et al. 7) I both of which produce a resistance to developing threshold shifts from latter exposures.
Keywords
Noise-measurement; Hearing-conservation; Hearing-disorders; Noise-exposure; Hearing-loss; Noise-waves; Analytical-processes; Noise-induced-hearing-loss; Hearing-protection
Contact
Auditory Research Laboratory, State University of New York, 107 Beaumont Hall, Plattsburgh, New York, 12901
Editors
Axelsson-A; Borchgrevink-HM; Hamernik-RP; Hellstrom-PA; Henderson-D; Salvi-RJ
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-002317; Grant-Number-K01-OH-000139
Source Name
Scientific basis of noise-induced hearing loss
Performing Organization
Plattsburgh State University, New York
