The Effects of Blast Trauma (Impulse Noise) on Hearing: A Parametric Study Source IV
Abstract
The first and primary goal of this contract 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 auditory evoked potential to measure hearing thresholds and tuning curves prior to and after exposure to various blast waves. Parameters of the blast waves studied include intensity, spectral composition, number of impulses and repetition rate. Correlations among hearing measures, exposure variables and histology have been developed. To achieve the above, two secondary objectives had to be completed: (1) develop a series of blast wave generation devices which are suitable for the laboratory simulation of a wide variety of blast waves; and (2) develop a suitable set of software and a PC-based computer system which can interact with crystal and capacitive microphones to capture and analyze blast waves. Four blast wave sources have been developed along with an analysis system. The results from Source I were summarized in reports ADA 206-180 and ADA 203-854. Source II results were summarized in report ADA 221-731 while Source III results were summarized in report ADA 228-368. This report summarizes the results from Source IV, an electrical spark discharge device which generates a blast wave in anechoic (free-field) surroundings whose peak of the A-weighted energy spectrum is in the 4kHz octave band.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA239643
Entities
People
- George A. Turrentine
- Keng D. Hsueh
- Robert I. Davis
- Roger P. Hamernik
- Sheau F. Lei
- William A. Ahroon
Organizations
- State University of New York