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Lend
me your ears
Going deaf? You could be suffering noise-induced hearing
loss and should have it checked immediately.
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Photo
illustration by David Sibley
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Hearing
loss caused by loud noise is a common long-term problem
and noise is a common hazard that military personnel and
civilians could face in the workplace or during training.
The most destructive occupational and recreational noise
is from firing weapons and from aircraft.
The first signs of noise-induced hearing loss may be turning
up the TV, having to ask family members to repeat what
was said in situations where previously you would have
heard or having difficulty understanding conversations
with a lot of background noise.
When
and where noise can damage hearing
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At
work, at home and at play.
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Anytime
there is noise and you have to raise your voice to be
heard at 1m – and this is not only when you are at
work.
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At
85 decibels or more for continuous steady noise (eight
hours a day) and at 140 decibels or more for impulse noise
(of a short duration, such as an impact noise).
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What's
that?
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Decibel
levels
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180
TOW missile, rocket-launching pad
160 Machine gun, Steyr, shotgun
150 Pistol, three-pound gun
140 Impulse levels for military weapons start
here, firecracker
130 Pneumatic hammer, metal spraying
120 F/A-18 fighter jet, Gamet blast unit,
Anzac diesel module
110 Chinook, rock concert, power saw, Pittwater
fire pump
100 Disc sander, radio with volume above
halfway
90 Medium truck, lawnmower, motorcyle
80 Danger when noise is above this level
70 Alarm clock
60 Noisy restaurant
50 Normal conversation
30 Whisper
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Why
protect hearing
Hearing loss caused by noise can be permanent. Exposure
to loud noise can cause a threshold shift or a brief (usually
less than 24 hours) loss of hearing.
This is often experienced after a loud concert, for instance.
Although this threshold shift is short lived, there is
an accumulation of damage which contributes to permanent
hearing loss.
Loud noise can cause ringing in the ears and increase
stress and fatigue. Impaired hearing can cause serious
or fatal mistakes in combat and at work.
Remember
the four Ps:
Hearing loss from noise is painless, progressive, permanent
and preventable.
How
to protect hearing
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Seek
and use equipment which produces low noise levels.
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Use
noise reduction procedures and ensure they are effective.
For example, close doors.
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Use
properly fitted and maintained hearing protection, such
as approved ear plugs, ear muffs or helmets.
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Avoid
using cotton wool, tissue and fingers as they are not
good hearing protectors.
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If
you are about to start a noisy task, let people nearby
know so they can either move or use hearing protection.
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Audiologists,
doctors, nurses, preventive medicine and environmental
health personnel, industrial hygienists, advisors or a
Defence occupational noise officer.
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The
Defence Health Service Branch, the Defence Safety Management
Agency and the Service Safety Management Groups can also
provide assistance.
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Information
for this article is from the Defence Health Service’s
Noise and Hearing Loss fact sheet.
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