Noise Susceptibility: A Comparison of Two Naval Aviator Populations.
Abstract
The identification of characteristics of noise susceptible or noise resistant individuals is necessary for the development of noise susceptibility risk profiles. Fifty six naval aviators, categorized as having either incurred a hearing loss (i.e., hearing threshold levels greater than 40 dB at 4000-8000Hz) or retained normal hearing (i.e., hearing threshold levels less than or equal to 25 dB at 125-8000 Hz) after thousands of flight hours were compared along several auditory and non-auditory dimensions. The following variables occurred differentially in the two groups: Minimal Auditory Intensity Differential (MAID) scores at 2000 Hz (p <.01) and 4000 Hz (p <.001); iris pigmentation (blue eyes were over represented in the noise susceptible group; p <.05); blood type (type A occurred more often in the noise susceptible population; p <.05); systolic blood pressure (sitting; noise susceptible group was higher; p <.05); calcium, albumin, and LDH levels (higher in the noise resistant group; p <.05); and present tobacco usage (more noise-susceptible aviators were currently smokers; p <.05). The noise susceptible population also tended (p <.10) to exhibit elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, higher contralateral acoustic reflexes, and had fewer individuals who had never smoked. Although no classic profile of the noise susceptible or noise resistant individual definitively emerged, results suggested that at least one measurement device (MAID test) may serve as an early warning of imminent noise induced damge.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA172222
Entities
People
- Carl E. Williams
- Gerald B. Thomas
Organizations
- Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory