The Effects of Blast Trauma (Impulse Noise) on Hearing: A Parametric Study
Abstract
The first and primary goal of this research is to study the effects of high level blast wave exposure on the conductive and sensory structures of the mammalian ear. This includes the use of the evoked potential to measure hearing thresholds and tuning curves prior to and after exposure to various blast wave exposures. Parameters of the blast waves studied include intensity, spectral composition, number of impulses and repetition rate. Correlations among hearing measures, exposure variables and histology are to be developed. The second objective is to develop a series of blast wave generation devices which are suitable for the laboratory simulation of a wide spectrum of blast waves. The third objective is to develop a suitable set of software and a PC-based computer system which will interact with crystal and capacitive microphones to capture and analyze blast waves. The Lamont 5-inch diameter shock tube was installed and calibrated; interactive and analytical software was developed Thirty animals have been exposed to the mid-frequency (1.0 kHz) energy-content blast waves which are substantially more hazardous to hearing than are the low- frequency (0.125 kHz) energy-content waves. The variability in hearing measures associated with exposures to the low frequency waves does not seem to be affecting the animals exposed to the mid-frequency waves. Preliminary hearing loss measures are consistent across animals in any given exposure paradigm. The slowest repetition rate for the 10X condition consistently procedures the most severe effects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 23, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA203854
Entities
People
- George A. Turrentine
- Keng D. Hsueh
- Robert I. Davis
- Roger P. Hamernik
- William A. Ahroon
Organizations
- State University of New York