• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.419-420
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• 2008

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.11
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• pp.573-579
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• 2018

Background and Objectives Cochlear dead region (CDR) is a region in the cochlear where hearing loss has occurred due to damage to the inner hair cells and/or neurons. Recently, a subjective test involving a pure-tone test in the presence of threshold-equalizing noise (TEN) was introduced to identify CDR. However, for uncooperative patients, such a subjective method would be unsuitable and objective methods would be needed instead to detect CDR. The acoustic change complex (ACC) is an evoked potential elicited by changes in the ongoing sound. In this study, we developed an objective method of identifying CDR by combining ACC response with a TEN test, namely the TEN-ACC test, and investigated its feasibility in normal-hearing listeners. Subjects and Method Ten normal-hearing subjects participated in this study. All subjects underwent both behavioral TEN test and electrophysiological TEN-ACC test. The stimuli for the TEN-ACC test consisted of TEN and embedded pure tones with different frequencies/signals to noise ratios (SNRs). To identify the thresholds, the range SNR of stimulation was varied from 0 to 20 dB, in stages of 4 dB. Results The ACC responses of all subjects who participated in this study were well elicited by stimuli developed for the TEN-ACC test. We confirm that the pure-tones embedded in TEN elicited the objective ACC response. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the novel TEN-ACC test can be applied to evoke ACC in normal-hearing listeners. Future research should incorporate hearing-impaired listeners to determine the feasibility of the TEN-ACC test as an objective method to identify CDR.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2021

Cortical deafness is a clinical rarity whereby a patient is unresponsive to all types of sounds despite the preserved integrity of the peripheral hearing organs. In this study, we present a patient who suddenly lost his hearing following ischaemic infarcts in both temporal lobes with no other neurological deficits. The CT confirmed damage to the primary auditory cortex (Heschl's gyrus) of both hemispheres. Initially, the patient was unresponsive to all sounds, however, he regained some of the auditory abilities during 10 months follow up. Pure tone threshold improvement from complete deafness to the level of moderate hearing loss in the right ear and severe in the left was observed in pure tone audiometry. Otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem responses, and acoustic reflex findings showed normal results. The middle and late latency potential results confirmed objectively the improvement of the patient's hearing, however, after 10 months still, they were somewhat compromised on both sides. In speech audiometry, there was no comprehension of spoken words neither at 3 nor at 10 months. The absent mismatch negativity confirmed above mentioned comprehension deficit. The extensive auditory electrophysiological testing presented in this study contributes to the understanding of the neural and functional changes in cortical deafness. It presents the evolution of changes after ischaemic cerebrovascular event expressed as auditory evoked potentials starting from short through middle and long latency and ending with event-related potentials and supported by neuroimaging.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2021

Cortical deafness is a clinical rarity whereby a patient is unresponsive to all types of sounds despite the preserved integrity of the peripheral hearing organs. In this study, we present a patient who suddenly lost his hearing following ischaemic infarcts in both temporal lobes with no other neurological deficits. The CT confirmed damage to the primary auditory cortex (Heschl's gyrus) of both hemispheres. Initially, the patient was unresponsive to all sounds, however, he regained some of the auditory abilities during 10 months follow up. Pure tone threshold improvement from complete deafness to the level of moderate hearing loss in the right ear and severe in the left was observed in pure tone audiometry. Otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem responses, and acoustic reflex findings showed normal results. The middle and late latency potential results confirmed objectively the improvement of the patient's hearing, however, after 10 months still, they were somewhat compromised on both sides. In speech audiometry, there was no comprehension of spoken words neither at 3 nor at 10 months. The absent mismatch negativity confirmed above mentioned comprehension deficit. The extensive auditory electrophysiological testing presented in this study contributes to the understanding of the neural and functional changes in cortical deafness. It presents the evolution of changes after ischaemic cerebrovascular event expressed as auditory evoked potentials starting from short through middle and long latency and ending with event-related potentials and supported by neuroimaging.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.135-142
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• 1996

Prolonged in-plant personnel exposure to high noise levels results in permant hearing damage. There are no way to correct this hearing damage by treatment or use of hearing aids. Therefore, every employer is responsible for providing a workplace free of such hazards as excessive noise. This study was carried out to evalute and predict a given noise environment based on specific limit as the noise guarantee for a newly-founded petrochemical plant. The maximum total sound level should not exceed 85dBA in the work area, except where the area is defined as a restricted area and 70dBA at the plant boundary. Prediction of the noise levels within the plant area for a newly-founded petrochemical plant was achieved by dividing all plant area into 20m$\times$20m regular grid spaces and noise level inside the area or unit that in-plant personel exposure to high noise levels was estimated computed into 5m$\times$5m regular grid spaces. The noise level at the grid point that was propagated from each of the noise sources(equipments) computed using the methematical formula was defined as follows : $SPL_2$=$SPL_1-20log{\frac{r_2}{r_1}}$(dB) where $SPL_1$ =sound pressure level at distance $r_1$ from the source $SPL_2$=sound pressure level at distance $r_2$ from the source As a result, the equipments exceeded noise limit or irritaring noise levels were identified on the specific grid coordinates. As for equipments in the area that show high noise levels, appropriate counter-measures for noise control (by barriers, enclosure, silencers, or the change of equipments, for example) should be reviewed. Methods for identifying sources of noise applied in this study should be the model for prediction of the noise levels for any newly-founded plant.

• Journal of Clinical Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.240-244
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• 2018

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and Immunoglobulin (Ig) $G_4$-related disease ($IgG_4$-RD) are rare diseases and early diagnosis and proper management are imperative to prevent multi-organ damage. The authors present a case of a 60 years old woman who had facial paralysis and hearing loss. Lt intact canal wall tympanomastoidectomy, Lt facial nerve decompression and ossiculoplasty with partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) was done. During operation, middle ear tissue was biopsied and GPA with $IgG_4$-RD was diagnosed. After methyl prednisolone (MPD) pulse therapy and azathioprine therapy, the severity of paralysis was improved. We present this case because common otologic symptoms like facial palsy and hearing loss could be initial symptoms of rare systemic disease.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2021

Type II mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS II) commonly known as Hunter syndrome, is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by iduronate-2-sulfatase deficiency, which in turn causes otorhinolaryngological manifestations, including sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Previously, the median survival age of patients with MPS was approximately 13.4 years. However, in the era of enzyme replacement therapy and other multidisciplinary care modalities, the life expectancy has increased. Herein, we report a rare case of an adolescent with MPS II who underwent SNHL treatment with cochlear implantation (CI). Based on unexpected findings of mastoid emissary veins and overgrowth of the vessels around the temporal bone, CI was performed using the transmeatal approach instead of the conventional transmastoid method, to avoid damage to the vessels. The average hearing threshold after CI was 35 dB and no surgical complications were encountered. Adolescent MPS II may present vessel abnormalities, which can reduce the success rate of surgery. In patients with MPS II with SNHL, CI should be performed under careful monitoring of vessel overgrowth. Moreover, with regard to feasibility of CI in adolescent patients with MPS II with SNHL, surgical techniques such as the transmeatal approach should be selected based on adequate assessment of the case.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2021

Type II mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS II) commonly known as Hunter syndrome, is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by iduronate-2-sulfatase deficiency, which in turn causes otorhinolaryngological manifestations, including sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Previously, the median survival age of patients with MPS was approximately 13.4 years. However, in the era of enzyme replacement therapy and other multidisciplinary care modalities, the life expectancy has increased. Herein, we report a rare case of an adolescent with MPS II who underwent SNHL treatment with cochlear implantation (CI). Based on unexpected findings of mastoid emissary veins and overgrowth of the vessels around the temporal bone, CI was performed using the transmeatal approach instead of the conventional transmastoid method, to avoid damage to the vessels. The average hearing threshold after CI was 35 dB and no surgical complications were encountered. Adolescent MPS II may present vessel abnormalities, which can reduce the success rate of surgery. In patients with MPS II with SNHL, CI should be performed under careful monitoring of vessel overgrowth. Moreover, with regard to feasibility of CI in adolescent patients with MPS II with SNHL, surgical techniques such as the transmeatal approach should be selected based on adequate assessment of the case.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.16-23
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• 2017

In contemporary modern society, people are constantly exposed to many kinds of noise, such as that from machinery, aircraft, construction sites, or road traffic. Noise is considered one of the most indispensable and influential parts of human life. This study investigates the acoustic characteristics of noise transfer from external sources to the human ear. For this study, we measured and analyzed various types of noise environments, installed monitoring speakers in a semi-anechoic room, and conducted intentional noise-filled experiments. In this environment, the size of the sounds generated by use of a portable device was also measured and the SNR (signal to noise ratio) calculated to study the influence of the noise. As sound is transmitted to the ear and the human body, it affects not only auditory damage but also other parts of the body. In this paper, we propose a proper SNR for noise emitted by portable IT equipment to prevent hearing loss when IT equipment is used.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2007

Usually equal noise exposure is considered to cause symmetrical hearing loss, but some screening audiometries of employees who were exposed to noise showed asymmetry. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the distribution of asymmetrical hearing loss and the difference of air conduction level between left and right ear at the different frequencies (500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 6,000 Hz). Study subjects were 326 male employees who had participated in the noise-specific health examination from May to October, 2002. They were evaluated by otoscopic examination, pure tone audiometry and tympanometry. In all frequencies, hearing threshold level of left ear was worse than right ear. The mean interaural threshold differences between two ears were 0.83 dB at 500 Hz, 1.18 dB at 2,000 Hz, 2.29 dB at 3,000 Hz, 2.18 dB at 4,000 Hz, and statistically significant (p<0.05). The hearing loss of left ear was greater than right ear in occupationally noise-exposed workers. It is believed that left ear was more susceptible to noise damage than right ear