• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.146-151
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The relationship between hearing aid (HA) use and improvement in cognitive function is not fully known. This study aimed to determine whether HAs could recover temporal resolution or hearing in noise functions. Materials and Methods: We designed a prospective study with two groups: HA users and controls. Patients older than 45 years, with a pure tone average threshold of worse than 40 dB and a speech discrimination score better than 60% in both ears were eligible. Central auditory processing tests and hearing in noise tests (HINTs) were evaluated at the beginning of the study and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the use of a monaural HA in the HA group compared to the control group. The changes in the evaluation parameters were statistically analyzed using the linear mixed model. Results: A total of 26 participants (13 in the HA and 13 in the control group) were included in this study. The frequency (p<0.01) and duration test (p=0.02) scores showed significant improvements in the HA group after 1 year, while the HINT scores showed no significant change. Conclusions: After using an HA for one year, patients performed better on temporal resolution tests. No improvement was documented with regard to hearing in noise.

• Environmental Sciences Bulletin of The Korean Environmental Sciences Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 1998

As the results of investigation, the noise level was between 60 dB and 80 dB in the area of explosion. The residents living within 1 Km would feel uncomfortable. However, hearing loss is not happened by this range. The maximum range that the human can hear is 20,000 Hz and the maximum range that the dog can hear is between 20 Hz and 40,000 Hz. The auditory range for humans to be uncomfortable toward noise is between 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz. As the result of this experiment, the auditory range of dog is more wide than of a human. The change of hair cells in the Corti's organ occurred when the dog was exposed to 1,000 Hz at 100 dB for 1 month. Therefore, the structure change of the ear could happen by hearing loss because of noise, but the structure change of hair cells is the worst symptom by hearing loss because of noise.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.249-261
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• 2020

Background: Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent worker health conditions worldwide. Although the effect of noise exposure on hearing is well researched, other workplace exposures may account for significant hearing loss. The aim of this review was to determine whether occupational hand-arm vibration exposure through use of power or pneumatic tools, independent of noise exposure, is associated with permanent hearing loss. Do workers suffer from hand-arm vibratione-induced hearing loss? Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1981 and 2020 were identified through five online databases with five search keywords. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, including online database search methodology, study selection, article exclusion, and assessment of potential study design confounders and biases, were followed. Results: Database searches retrieved 697 articles. Fifteen articles that reported 17 studies met the criteria for review. All but two studies revealed statistically significant associations between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. The majority of the study results revealed associations between hand-arm vibration and hearing loss, independent of potential age and noise confounders. Conclusion: Few studies have examined the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. Dose response data were limited as only one study measured vibration intensity and duration. Although the majority of studies identified statistically significant associations, causal relationships could not be determined. Further research using standardized and uniform measurement protocols is needed to confirm whether the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and permanent hearing loss is causal and the mechanism(s).

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.16 no.1 s.106
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• pp.81-88
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• 2006

The most recent trend on digital hearing aid is to increase the ratio of signal to noise by directivity or to develop noise reduction algorithm inside DSP IC chip. This paper designed, fabricated and tested a digital hearing aid directivity testing device in which a micro-mouse-like the stepping motor with a speaker rotates around an examinant. Both ears of the examinant were fixed with ITE hearing aids in order to respond to receiving sound. The experimental results were compared with those of a boundary element method program for verification. The diameter of the directivity testing device was 2 m and the micro-mouse was precisely controlled by PICBASIC micro processor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.469-474
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• 2005

The most recent trend on digital hearing aid is to increase the ratio of signal to noise by directivity or to develop noise reduction algorithm inside DSP IC chip. This paper designed, fabricated and tested a digital hearing aid directivity testing device in which a micro-mouse-1ike the stepping motor with a speaker rotates around an examinant. Both ears of the examinant were fixed with ITE hearing aids in order to response to receiving sound. The experimental results were compared with a boundary element method program for verification. The diameter of the directivity testing device was 2 [m] and the micro-mouse was precisely controlled by PICBASIC micro processor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.796-801
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• 2007

This research presents a laboratory study about a comparison between two methods that measure a hearing threshold of the Subjects who participated in an experiment of the Jury test. The Subjects heard a signal by a headphone. The Subjects of total 63 persons (man=42, woman=21 persons) participated in an experiment. A test of hearing was divided into two (Top-Down, Bottom-Up) methods. Total time of hearing test was about 80 minute(40min/day). As a results of the hearing test, a hearing threshold of the Subjects who used to wear a headphone was higher than that of the Subjects who not used to wear a headphone. A hearing threshold of a man was higher than that of a woman. The result of hearing test was showed that ISO's hearing threshold(MAF) was lower than a result that get from an experiment.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2015

Although noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant public health problem, many people might not be aware that exposure to loud noise could occur hearing loss. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and analyze how importantly and seriously people are aware of NIHL using a 22-question survey. It was administered to random 150 people including between 20 s to 60 s. The questionnaire contained questions about i) views toward general health issues including hearing loss and tinnitus, ii) noise exposure, and iii) views toward hearing protection. Results showed that hearing loss was defined on a likert scale as 'a very big problem' by 17.33 % of respondents compared with other health issues. Surprisingly, most respondents (82 %) had not heard, read, or seen anything lately related to the issue of hearing loss. Many respondents had experience hearing problem or tinnitus under loud noise situations (85 %), however, only 11.33 % of respondents had used earplugs. Fortunately, many could be motivated to try ear protection if they were advised by a medical professional (80 %) or were aware of the potential for permeant hearing loss (78.67 %). We concluded that awareness of the potential for permanent hearing loss with noise and effective methods of hearing protection should be announced to public for preventing NIHL.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.134-138
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• 2015

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major preventable occupational health problem with 250 million people worldwide known to have disabling impairment of moderate to greater severity. The aims of the study are to estimate the prevalence of NIHL in the police force; and study its association with age, sex, duration of service (years), smoking and alcohol habits, use of hearing protective devices, as well as preexisting chronic diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 543 police personnel who had undergone periodic medical examination over a 12-month period. The diagnostic criteria for NIHL were (1) history of occupational noise exposure, (2) bilateral hearing loss, (3) hearing loss of ${\geq}25dBA$ at 4,000 Hz in two consecutive audiograms, and (4) no significant medical history affecting hearing. Severity of NIHL was based on the World Health Organization grading. Results: Males (74.8%) made up the majority of the police force. The mean age for police personnel was $35.55{\pm}9.57years$, and the mean duration of service was $14.75{\pm}9.39years$. Compliance with the usage of hearing protective devices was seen in 64.4%. The prevalence of NIHL in this study population was 34.2%, with a higher prevalence in males (37.7%) than in females (23.9%). The study also showed strong associations between NIHL and male sex (odds ratio, 1.9; P < 0.05), and hypertension (odds ratio, 3.3; P < 0.001). Overall, 93% were found to have mild NIHL, 3.5% had moderate NIHL, and 3.5% had severe NIHL. No police personnel were found to have profound hearing loss. Conclusion: The prevalence of NIHL in this study is high compared to other similar studies among police personnel. This study shows that increasing age, male, presence of hypertension, diabetes, and longer duration of service are significant associated factors for NIHL. Preventative strategies include health surveillance, implementation of a hearing conservation program, and legislation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2002

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the protective effect of DADS on the noise induced hearing loss Methods : Twenty healthy guinea pigs (DADS pretreated group and control) were exposed to 100dB a collected environmental noise for 9 hours. An auditory evoked brainstem response (ABR) threshold was measured before and after a noise exposure. For morphological study, cochlea was studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results : The DADS pretreated group showed statistically significant less changes in ABR threshold and SEM findings compared the control group. Conclusion : From these results suggest that the DADS from garlic may have a protective effect in noise induced hearing loss.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.10b
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• pp.382-384
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• 2005

When a hearing aid' s user is listening through telephone or cellular phone, he/she usually suffers from severe electrical magnetic interference noise. It is because hearing aids amplify voice signal as well as background noise. A telecoil, an induction coil, is a possible solution for the problem. Because a telecoil has the characteristic of high pass filter, it has some problem of resulting increased high frequency noise. For solving this problem, we can use a capacitor connected with the telecoil in parallel. According to capacitance, receiving signal quality may change. In this paper, proper capacitor values for the best sound quality are investigated by experimental work.