Predicted Impairment and Handicap from Exposure to Steady-State Broad-Band Industrial Noise

Abstract

In this work, the empirical formula derived by Chagok and Gyang (2012)in conjunction to the AAO-1979 rule was used to predict values for the monaural impairment and the hearing handicap for exposure to steady-state broad-band industrial noise. The predicted values for the monaural impairment and the hearing handicap increase with exposure levels and therefore support the Equal Energy Hypothesis (EEH). The values of the hearing handicap are always higher than the corresponding values of the monaural impairment. The values of the monaural impairment and the hearing handicap show that all the values increase with sound pressure level, exposure time and age and that values of the impairment and handicap could be obtained for sound pressure level of 70dBA if the table is expanded to consider entries for higher ages and more exposures.

Keywords: Monaural impairment, hearing handicap, noise, hearing loss, industries.