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Application of frequency and time domain kurtosis to the assessment of complex, time varying noise exposures.

Lei SF; Ahroon WA; Hamernik RP

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

20023614

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.

Noise measurement; Hearing conservation; Hearing disorders; Noise exposure; Hearing loss; Noise waves; Analytical processes; Noise induced hearing loss; Hearing protection

Auditory Research Laboratory, State University of New York, 107 Beaumont Hall, Plattsburgh, New York, 12901

19960501

Chapter

Axelsson A; Borchgrevink HM; Hamernik RP; Hellstrom PA; Henderson D; Salvi RJ

2829511

Grant

1996

9780865775961

Grant-Number-R01-OH-002317; Grant-Number-K01-OH-000139

Scientific basis of noise-induced hearing loss

NY

Plattsburgh State University, New York