Evaluation of the Effects of Short Duration Noise Exposures on a Battery of Hearing Tests.
Abstract
Three indices of hearing were combined in a test battery approach to the detection of temporary hearing changes caused by noise exposure. All three procedures, Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS), Level of Initial Masking (LIM) and Loudness Discrimination (LD) tests were performed on twenty subjects before and after 15 minute exposures to pink noise ranging in level from 70 dB SPL to 95 dB SPL. Over the six-month testing period, no significant changes occurred in the pre-exposure data for any of the subjects. Thus, all changes in hearing following the noise exposures were temporary in nature. All three tests showed significant shifts in scores after certain noise exposures. The 70 dB SPL expousre caused no significant shifts in any of the test scores, but higher exposure levels (especially 90 and 95 dB SPL) did cause significant shifts in all three tests. The three tests were not equally effective in identifying temporary hearing changes; however, no signle test or two-test combination was so effective as to warrant the elimination of any one of the tests from the battery. The combination of all three tests proved to be most effective.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 11, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA066061
Entities
People
- Anthony P. Carito
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University