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Published Friday August 17, 2012
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By Dr Barry ChessonPresident, Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists
This special liftout has been developed as a joint initiative of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) and The West Australian.
AIOH is the professional body representing 1100 members nationwide who strive to deliver a healthy workplace.
Occupational hygienists have a strong interest in the management of noise because of its pervasive and impactful nature and because it is present in almost all industrial workplaces.
The liftout is intended to lend support for the activities that will take place in the coming days as part of National Hearing Awareness Week, running from August 19 to 25, 2012.
This year’s theme is ‘hearing loss affects everyone’. So, what does this statement mean?
While there are four million Australians who suffer from signifi cant hearing loss, there are many others in the form of workmates, family, friends and casual acquaintances who are impacted in their dealings with those individuals. Communication diffi culties may give rise to breakdown in relationships, mistakes, annoyance and frustration and safety issues at work or home.
So, hearing loss affects everyone and hearing loss is everyone’s business.
The articles which follow have been prepared by experts in their respective areas, drawn mainly from occupational hygiene, audiology, science and engineering. The intention is to cover the recognition, evaluation and control elements of noise management – the impact of noise on hearing, the measurement and assessment of noise levels and hearing loss – and importantly the solutions available in today’s world.
IntroductionIntroduction to noiseto noise
2
Those rules alone would make most of us
act carefully in our timing and amount of the
withdrawals, to ensure the funds would last
throughout our lifetime.
That one-way bank account describes our
sense of hearing. We are born with about
30,000 receptor cells whose job it is to
convert acoustic waves, transformed into
hydraulic waves and into electrical impulses
that are sent to the brain. The brain then
interprets these electrical impulses as
meaningful sound: a knock on the door, a
warning signal, a conversation or music.
Once a receptor cell is irreparably damaged,
it is gone forever. There is no surgery,
medication or therapy that restores the
receptor cells of human hearing.
Since we are born with tens of thousands of
these cells, it is hardly noticeable if we lose a
few dozen. But if we lose a few dozen every
day – perhaps on-the-job or due to noisy
hobbies – then it catches up on us.
Our hearing is impaired and there is nothing
we can do to make a deposit back into that
good hearing account; we have permanent
hearing loss.
Withdrawals from our account of receptor
cells occur naturally due to ageing and there
is little we can do to slow that process,
but we lose our hearing much more and
much faster due to hazardous noise. In
many ways, loud noise robs our account of
receptor cells prematurely, leaving us unable
to hear words clearly.
What is our best defence from premature
hearing loss?
Protect the hearing from hazardous noise!
Don’t let your account of receptor cells be
robbed by noisy work or hobbies.
Imagine a bank account, credited with an initial sum of money intended to last throughout your lifetime, but this bank account is different: it is a one-way account. You can withdraw money, but you cannot make deposits.
By Brad WittDirector, Hearing Conservation, Honeywell Safety Products
Hearing: the one-way bank accountHearing: the one-way bank account
Once a receptor cell is irreparably damaged, it is gone forever. There is no surgery, medication or therapy that restores the receptor cells of human hearing.
Editor: Kim Cousins Design: Michelle Nunn Advertising: Eithne Healy 9482 9040, Rajesh Kulkarni 9482 3567
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As Chief Scientist of Western Australia and
a board member of the Ear Science Institute
of Australia, I am delighted to be part of the
Managing Noise liftout.
My research career has centered on the
development and repair of sensory systems.
Just as staring at the sun permanently
destroys those cells in the eye that detect
light; with hearing, excessive noise is a
destroyer.
The precious and highly specialised cells of
the ear (termed hair cells) are under attack
from excessively loud noise and we do not
know how to replace them – once lost, they
are never replaced.
Unlike bright sunlight, from which we
naturally turn away, loud noise is more
insidious – the damage is sometimes done
without us even realising it.
There are other causes of hearing loss too,
such as ear infections that can rupture
the eardrum or block the tiny bones that
transmit the sound waves to fl uid fi lled
cochlea that contains the hair cells.
To avoid hearing loss, we should be
protecting our ears from loud sounds and
seeing a doctor to stop infections. Hearing
aids and cochlea implants can help, but
prevention is a much better philosophy.
In Australia, one in six people are affected by
hearing loss. With an ageing population, this
fi gure is projected to increase to a quarter of
all Australians by 2050.
The cost of hearing loss is not only a
personal tragedy; it costs the nation a
staggering $11.75 billion each year – 1.4 per
cent of Australia’s gross domestic product.
Enjoy reading this liftout – let’s hope we all
heed its messages.
Hearing is so important. It links us to other people – without it we face the prospect of social isolation. Particularly in the young, normal hearing is crucial to learning how to speak, how to interact with others and for those key lessons at school.
By Professor Lyn BeazleyChief Scientist of Western Australia
Hearing – it’s importantHearing – it’s important In Australia, one in six people are aff ected by hearing loss. With an ageing population, this fi gure is projected to increase to a quarter of all Australians by 2050.
Big thanks for this cartoon by Dean Alston
4
In recent decades, the dangers of workplace noise exposure have been well-documented and employers have taken precautionary steps.
By Brad WittDirector, Hearing Conservation, Honeywell Safety Products
Many factors affect the chance of getting a
permanent hearing impairment and like the
lottery, are out of our control.
When we are born, we are dealt a genetic
hand of cards that will play throughout the
course of our lives. It’s true some people
are more predisposed to develop hearing
loss than others even in the exact same
environmental circumstances.
People age at different rates and in different
ways. The bald fi fty-year-old on the bus
admires the full head of hair on a man of the
same age and that man in turn envies the
bald man who can stand on the swaying
bus without arthritis pain.
Ageing, illnesses, infection and arthritic
changes can all impact on hearing; although
they often make a much smaller impact
than hearing damaged by noise.
Another example of people’s genetic
differences comes from the charts in the
back of the Codes of Practice relating
to noise in the workplace. They give a
probability of the percentage of workers
likely to sustain noise-induced hearing loss
if exposed to a particular volume of noise.
Worryingly, there are a percentage of noise-
exposed workers who will sustain hearing
loss even if they are exposed to noise
below that which the law states to be the
safe limit.
Some workplaces are now setting their own
maximum acceptable noise limits three to
fi ve decibels (dB) below that mandated by
law.
While our genetic odds may be excellent,
we can ruin those good chances easily by
exposing ourselves to noise. Unlike the
division one prize, in the deafness lottery
you won’t be celebrating if your numbers
come up.
Have you ever taken notice of the odds of striking it rich in the lottery? There are more chances of being struck by lightning, not once, but twice, than winning the big prize. Unfortunately, the odds in the deafness lottery are much better for ‘striking at pitch’ rather than ‘striking it rich’.
By Benjamin Elsey Clinical Director, Hearing Conservation Australia
DeafnessDeafness lotterylottery
Many Australian young adult Australians discover too late that the effects of noisy leisure activities include permanent hearing loss and ringing in the ears.
But can we lose hearing from common off-the-job noise exposures, like an evening at a nightclub? According to a recent study by the Australian National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), the answer is a deafening yes.
In the NAL study*, an online survey of 1000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 was used to assess attitudes toward hearing loss and prevalence of noisy leisure activities. This was coupled with dozens of sample noise measurements taken during common off-the-job activities, such as a concert, a fi tness class or an evening at a pub or nightclub.
Those noise measurements were then compared to a typical noisy day on the job: eight hours of noise at an average noise level of 85 decibels (dB) (enough noise to damage hearing).
The table below shows how one hour of each leisure activity compares to a typical noisy day on the job:
So just one hour at the nightclub was found to be equivalent to two days of hearing risk on a noisy job.
The number of young adults exposed to the hazardous noise from leisure activities was especially alarming.
The online survey showed 13 per cent of the responding young adults reported exposure to leisure noise higher than the yearly acceptable noise dose for on-the-job noise exposures and 6 per cent of the respondents had noise exposures greater than two years of on-the-job noise.
In addition, many respondents reported higher incidence of tinnitus, the tell-tale ringing in the ears that often accompanies noise-induced hearing loss.
The authors of the study concluded many young adults are aware of the risks of hearing loss due to leisure activities, but that awareness often does not translate into preventive action.
Many Australian young adult Australians discover too late that the effects of noisy leisure activities include permanent hearing loss and ringing in the ears.
*Presented jointly by the Australian National Acoustic Laboratories and The HEARing CRC at the 2012 conference of National Hearing Conservation Association.
Leisure activity
(per hour)
Noisy job
(per day)
Concert or live music venue
0.63
Sporting event 0.80
Fitness class 0.16
Pub, bar or registered club
0.1
Nightclub 2.0
One hour in a nightclub equals twoOne hour in a nightclub equals two days on a noisy jobdays on a noisy job
55
The newly completed Centre for Ear,
Nose and Throat Education and Research
(CENTER) was offi cially opened by His
Excellency Mr Malcolm McCusker, Governor
of Western Australia, on Thursday June 7.
Trainees at CENTER will have access to
world-class training equipment and facilities,
including a high-tech computer-based
otoscopy training and simulation system
being introduced to WA for the fi rst time.
The OtoSim system, developed by leading
Canadian otolaryngologists and launched
last year, uses a number of stand-alone
simulation units controlled by a trainer and
has been shown to improve diagnostic
accuracy by 44 per cent. CENTER has six
OtoSim units, providing trainees with the
opportunity to master clinical and procedural
skills in a training environment before moving
to a clinical setting.
ESIA Director and UWA Professor Marcus
Atlas said CENTER would form a key plank
in WA’s growing international reputation as
a centre for excellence in medical training,
adding to an established array of impressive
facilities in the state.
CENTER – the development of which been
led by ESIA in partnership with St John of
God Health Care, the Ear Sciences Centre
UWA and the University of Notre Dame
Australia – will also provide much-needed
dedicated specialist ENT and head and neck
training facilities.
The importance of CENTER was recognised
with a $2.745 million Federal Government
grant for the construction and fi t-out of
the facility, made through the Department
of Health and Ageing’s Innovative Clinical
Teaching and Training Grants program.
In addition to OtoSim, the state-of-the-art
facilities and equipment at CENTER include:
• SIM Man – a computer-controlled high
fi delity patient simulator
• immersive virtual reality team-based training
software
• a fully interactive high-defi nition audiovisual
and video conferencing link between ESIA,
UNDA and SJOGH; and
• an interactive video wall.
“We are delighted to offi cially open the doors
to what is set to become one of the world’s
most innovative and specialised training
facilities, and it’s particularly wonderful
to have it opened by His Excellency The
Governor given the McCusker family has
been a signifi cant supporter of ESIA over the
years,” Professor Atlas said.
Perth has cemented its reputation as a regional leader in specialist medical training, with the opening of a multimillion dollar state-of-the-art ear, nose and throat training and skills development centre at the Ear Science Institute Australia (ESIA) facility in Subiaco.
Dr Brett RobertsonGeneral Manager, Ear Science Institute Australia
Leadership in medical educationLeadership in medical education
We are delighted to offi cially open the doors to what is set to become one of the world’s most innovative and specialised training facilities.
3M proudly sponsors Hear2Day, the WA-based noise awareness program for school aged children.
Visit: www.hear2day.com.au
3M provides innovative solutions and products that support Occupational Hygienists in making Australian workplaces safer.
See our hearing protection and communication solutions at:
www.3M.com/au/PPESafety
Is your workplace too noisy?
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6
Much is known and documented about
noise and its effect on hearing. However,
one area not as well-known is the effect
some chemicals have on hearing, especially
when combined with noise exposure.
In some workplaces, there are certain
chemicals that are considered ototoxic –
meaning toxic to hearing.
Chemicals that can enter and circulate
around the body in the bloodstream pose a
signifi cant danger. As the hearing organ (the
cochlear) has a rich network of fi ne blood
vessels, these damaging chemicals can
infi ltrate the blood stream and can cause
damage to the ear.
Some of the most common workplace
chemicals that fall into this category include
toluene, xylene, organic lead and fuels like
diesel and kerosene. The body absorbs
these if they come into contact with the
skin. Other ototoxins, such as solvents,
manganese, arsenic, styrene and white
spirits are absorbed into the bloodstream
after they are inhaled into the lungs.
Another well-known ototoxin is carbon
monoxide. Many workplaces consider
people who are working in proximity to
engine exhausts for this risk and manage
accordingly. However, many fail to consider
whether a worker is a smoker. The act of
smoking produces high levels of carbon
monoxide in the bloodstream, so places a
smoker exposed to noise at a greater risk of
sustaining noise-induced hearing loss than a
non-smoker.
The Codes of Practice relating to noise
provide advice about safe levels and the
reduction of noise exposure required to keep
ototoxin-exposed workers safe from the
combined effect of chemicals and noise.
It is also highly advisable to test the hearing
of these workers more often to ensure the
measures put in place are adequate to deal
with these ototoxic agents.
Industrial workplaces produce many different products depending on their industry, but as well as these products, most of them also make noise.
By Benjamin ElseyClinical Director, Hearing Conservation Australia
Worksites such as refi neries, mines or oil
and gas production platforms are either very
large in size, or compressed into relatively
small areas with a high density of complex
industrial plant and processes.
The number of employees working on
each site is often high and the nature of
their jobs can be highly varied in the tasks
performed and the location at which they
are undertaken.
It is imperative to know how and where to
direct noise measurement efforts. The key to
developing an effective noise management
plan is to divide worksite and employee
groups as simply as possible with respect to
noise exposure.
When undertaking surveys, it is important
to understand how, where and what
operators do within each area and measure
accordingly.
Dividing a large number of employees into
defi ned work groups further manages the
size of the task.
Should certain individuals within exposure
groups undertake additional activities from
the remainder of the exposure group, these
individuals should be assigned to their own
exposure group(s).
This strategy allows the decisions of where,
and what to measure to become much more
representative. In turn, the analysis of your
results also becomes easier.
By determining how much time each
exposure group spends in each work area
or specifi c task and applying this to the area
or task noise level, it is possible to estimate
the noise exposure levels for those groups.
For the highest risk or where borderline
exposure around the regulatory criteria is
apparent, the use of noise dosimetry can
validate your results and may assist in
identifying specifi c noise risk activities or
locations over a total shift exposure.
This approach allows a noise management
plan to be a continuous, fl uid method
of assessing and controlling your noise
exposure risk.
The areas on your worksite with the highest
noise levels are not necessarily providing the
highest levels of exposure risk. By attributing
noise exposure risk to specifi c jobs or work
tasks, it is easier to identify which areas or
tasks of the worksite are generating the
highest exposure risk. Such areas or tasks
can then be investigated in more detail to
determine the feasibility of noise control
methods.
This approach can provide the most
effective and effi cient use of your noise
management budget to reduce your noise
exposure risk to as low as practicable.
For a complex work environment, determining workplace noise exposure risk can be highly challenging.
By Richard Pamley Principal Acoustics and Philip Lancaster, Principal Health Safety from SLR Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd
Can you smell that?Can you smell that? I think I’m going deaf!I think I’m going deaf!
Measurement ofMeasurement of occupational noiseoccupational noise
This approach allows a noise management plan to be a continuous, fl uid method of assessing and controlling your noise exposure risk.
7
It is not a disease that can make hearing worse, but a condition that can result from many underlying causes. These include ear infections and other ear diseases, certain medications and wax build-up in the ear canal. However, the most common cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud sounds.
The prevalence of tinnitus increases with age and fortunately most people with tinnitus are able to manage it with simple strategies. Others, however, fi nd it impacts on many aspects of their day-to-day life and need to seek help from ear, nose and throat specialists and audiologists.
Tinnitus resulting from noise damage is often accompanied by temporary or permanent hearing loss. A common experience is a hearing loss and tinnitus that occurs after attending a loud concert, which disappears after a few hours.
Although symptoms may be alleviated, the hearing organ may have been left with
permanent damage that is not clinically apparent in the early stages.
There are no cures in most cases of severe tinnitus, however, there are many treatments that can help.
People who have hearing loss in addition to tinnitus often fi nd relief from hearing aids, which mask the tinnitus by amplifying the environmental sounds. People who have normal hearing and bothersome tinnitus often benefi t from sound enrichment strategies aimed at taking the listener’s focus of attention away from tinnitus and onto a more pleasant sound. Over time, they fi nd they don’t need the additional sound as the tinnitus is no longer bothersome.
The best way to prevent permanent severe tinnitus is to minimise your exposure to loud sounds through using good hearing protection. This should be used for both occupational noise at work and recreational noise in loud music venues, shooting and noisy power machinery.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head. The type of sound is different from person to person and it may be continuous or intermittent.
By Dr Helen GouliosClinical Coordinator, Master of Clinical Audiology Course, University of Western Australia
Can tinnitus harm hearing?Can tinnitus harm hearing?
Although symptoms may be alleviated, the hearing organ may have been left with permanent damage that is not clinically apparent in the early stages.
8
Music has an uncanny effect of increasing
one’s motivation and stamina to exercise.
Often, listening to upbeat and loud music
may tide us through a tough workout.
However, in light of ear health, the volume
which we are listening to should be taken
into consideration.
Earbud headphones, which are inserted
directly into the ear canal, have the
potential to boost the transmitted sound
signal by as much as six to nine decibels
(dB).
By far, the biggest mistake people make
when listening to personal music players
while exercising is trying to drown out other
sounds around them.
It is far easier to get into the zone when you
can’t hear the slapping of your feet on the
treadmill, the banter of the other gym folk,
or the music the gym is playing that is not
to your taste.
However, this is volume far above that
which your hearing can cope with. In
fact, you should be able to hear someone
speaking at a normal volume if they are
about one metre away from you.
Your music is almost defi nitely too loud
if they need to shout or wave at you to
attract your attention.
To reduce the chances of preventable
hearing loss, the 60 per cent, 60 minute
rule may be adopted. It has been
recommended that iPods or other mp3
players should not be used for more than
60 minutes a day, with the volume set at
below 60 per cent of the maximum level.
This should ensure your hearing does
not become the pawn of otherwise good
health.
You are at the gym, your heart is racing and adrenaline is pumping to the music blaring through your earphones.
By Benjamin ElseyClinical Director, Hearing Conservation Australia
Turn those earphones down!Turn those earphones down!
The universal unit of sound measurement
is the decibel (dB). So, hearing ability and
hearing loss are also measured in dB. When
assessing hearing loss, it is rarely expressed
as a percentage.
Hearing loss is only usefully expressed as a
percentage associated with compensation
claims. This percentage of impairment is
converted from the actual hearing loss (in
dB), by using a formula set by the National
Acoustics Laboratory. This is converted
to a Whole Person Physical Impairment
Percentage (WPPIP), which is then converted
to a dollar fi gure.
More importantly, it is impossible for
a clinician to work backwards from a
percentage – or dollar amount – to calculate
the actual hearing impairment.
Clinicians assess hearing impairment by
testing the quietest sound possible that an
individual can hear. This is called threshold
testing and is tested by having the person
listening to pure tones through headphones,
as well as a similar test called bone
conduction testing.
Assessing someone’s hearing includes
impedance testing and speech discrimination
– which refers to the person’s ability to
understand conversation in the presence of
some distraction and background noise. Only
then do doctors know the amount, cause
and impact of the hearing loss.
When it comes to answering the question of
how hearing loss is measured, it’s always in
dB.
As to how the hearing loss is assessed, the
answer depends on whether the person
asking the question is wearing a white coat
or a white wig.
When talking about hearing loss, sometimes the message can get lost in translation.
By Benjamin ElseyClinical Director, Hearing Conservation Australia
Speaking the languageSpeaking the language of hearing lossof hearing loss
Assessing someone’s hearing includes impedance testing and speech discrimination - which refers to the person’s ability to understand conversation in the presence of some distraction and background noise.
9Hearing protection is the only product category in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that has historically delivered a solution that restricts a worker’s ability to use the sense that it is meant to be protecting.
By David Cannington Chief Marketing Offi cer, Sensear
Imagine if eye protection involved wearing
blacked-out protective glasses that didn’t
allow you to see. Not only does it not make
sense, we know that no worker would wear
them.
For too long, the hearing protection industry
has been offering passive hearing protection
solutions that reduce the ability of the
worker to hear.
The result is that many workers remove
the hearing protection provided to them
because they want to communicate with
their fellow workers or be more aware of
their surroundings for safety and productivity
reasons.
New Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
technology embedded in smart hearing
devices has come a long way in the last
fi ve years to address this dilemma and is
changing the way companies approach
hearing protection.
This technology will fundamentally change
the hearing protection industry just as the
change from computers did to typewriters,
or smart phones are doing to cell phones.
Embedded with sophisticated hardware
and software, these smart hearing devices
can now separate human speech from
background noise, provide situational
awareness and protect users from hearing
loss all at the same time.
They also deliver total connectivity by
syncing to Bluetooth devices such as smart
phones, tablets and rugged cell phones and
connecting to two-way radios and other
communication systems in the workplace.
At the forefront of this revolution is
Australian-born Sensear. With technology
developed in Perth, Sensear is delivering
a range of hearing protection devices
that are powered by its patented Speech
Enhancement, Noise Suppression (SENS)
technology that simultaneously separates
speech from background noise while
allowing workers to enjoy situational
awareness.
Sensear’s technology is being used by
Fortune 500 companies around the globe
who believe that enabling workers to hear
is not only critical to hearing protection
effectiveness, but to the productivity of a
high-noise work environment.
This new technology has the potential to
change the way workers communicate
in high-noise environments and as the
technology becomes smarter and more
effi cient, more companies will be turning to
these digital devices to solve their hearing
protection needs.
To protect is to hearTo protect is to hear
This technology will fundamentally change the hearing protection industry just as the change from computers did to typewriters, or smart phones are doing to cell phones.
SLR’s acoustics team offers a broad range of services
and a wealth of experience in acoustic matters
and can be employed in a variety of ways, from the
provision of simple advice or undertaking discrete
assessments, to carrying out full impact assessments
or providing expert witness evidence.
Our experienced team of over 60 acousticians can
provide specialist advice on the following:
• Mining Noise & Vibration
• Occupational Hygiene
• Industrial Acoustics
• Rail Acoustics
• Road Acoustics
• Building Acoustics
• Bridge Dynamics
• Ecoacoustics
• Transportation Vibration Assessment and Control
• Defence Noise & Vibration
• Aircraft and Helicopter Acoustics
• Structural Dynamics
Andrew Boladz Perth Offi ce Manager
125 Edward Street,PERTH 6000
aboladz@slrconsulting.com
9370 0100
global environmental solutions
1495
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www.slrconsutling.com
Ear Science Institute Australia
Hearing Awareness Week Free Seminars 20 - 25 August 2012
Free Hearing
Screenings
Invisible Hearing Aids20 Aug 4-5pm & 22 Aug 6-7pm (Subiaco)Have you been putting off getting hearing aids because of the way they look? Hear a detailed review of three new invisible devices now available from leading manufacturers.
Free Hearing Aids for Pensioners20 Aug 12.30-2pm (Subiaco)21 Aug 2.30-3.30pm (Willetton)23 Aug 2.30-3.30pm (Joondalup) Information about eligibility for free services and hearing aids via the government OHS system.
Advances in Hearing Aid Technology20 Aug 6-7pm & 21 Aug 4-5pm (Subiaco)21 Aug 4-5pm (Willetton) 23 Aug 4-5pm (Joondalup)Learn about modern advances in hearing aid technology and how they perform.
Understanding Tinnitus 20 Aug 2.30-3.30pm, 21 Aug 6-7pm 23 Aug 4-5pm (Subiaco)21 Aug 6-7pm (Willetton) 23 Aug 6-7pm (Joondalup) Learn about tinnitus, its effects and ways to cope and manage the condition.
Living with Severe Hearing Loss – Patients’ Perspectives22 Aug 11am-12pm (Subiaco)Listen to patients’ experiences of severe hearing loss and gaining access to sound again through a cochlear implant.
Everyday Communication Strategies 21 Aug 11am-12pm, 22 Aug 2.30-3.30pm & 23 Aug 11am-12pm (Subiaco)A fun and interactive session for those with hearing loss and their families and carers.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Balance System21 Aug 2.30-3.30pm & 22 Aug 4-5pm (Subiaco) An introduction to the balance system, disorders that cause dizziness and where to go for help.
MP3 Players and Hearing Loss – Protecting our Children’s Hearing25 Aug 11am-12pm (Subiaco)A fun and interactive session for parents and their children (10-12 year olds) about noise induced hearing loss, how to enjoy using MP3 players safely and protect their hearing.
ESIA Research – Extending the Boundaries of Hearing Health Care23 Aug 6-7pm (Subiaco)Join ESIA’s researchers for a fascinating journey into the ground breaking research work of the Institute.
Assistive Listening Devices 21 Aug 12.30-2pm & 23 Aug 12.30-2pm (Subiaco)Learn about alternative hearing devices that can be used in social situations and around the home.
Single Sided Deafness 23 Aug 2.30-3.30pm (Subiaco) Learn about the Bone Anchored Hearing Aid and try it out for yourself.
Resources for the Hearing Impaired20 Aug 11am-12pm (Subiaco)Hear from CICADA, Senses, Better Hearing Australia and the National Relay Service about their services and how to access them.
An Introduction to Sign Language 22 Aug 12.30-2pm (Subiaco)Better Hearing Australia introduces Auslan, its fundamental principles, some basic signs and fi nger spelling.
Seminars to be held at:
Subiaco: Ear Science Institute Australia, Level 2, 1 Salvado Rd, SubiacoJoondalup: Lions Hearing Clinic, Unit 10, 189 Lakeside Drive, Cnr Reid Prom, JoondalupWilletton: Bullcreek Church of Christ, 55 Agincourt Drive, Willetton
For more information visit www.earscience.org.au
Call Sandra Nair on 6380 4900 or email sandra.nair@earscience.org.au for all bookings.
10
Although more commonly known as an ear
infection, otitis media is the proper term used
to describe an infl amed middle ear. Otitis
refers to the infl ammation of the ear, while
media denotes middle.
A tube called the Eustachian tube connects
the back of the throat with the middle ear. In
young children, this tube is much shorter.
This makes it far easier for viral or bacterial
infections which cause sore throats, colds or
other upper respiratory problems to climb the
Eustachian tube and enter the middle ear.
Otitis media is associated with health issues,
such as conjunctivitis, disturbed sleep,
a change in taste sensations, allergies
or complaints of fullness in the ear. This
condition is very prevalent in young children
and, more importantly, can cause varying
degrees of temporary hearing loss until the
infection subsides.
As otitis media usually occurs during the fi rst
18 months to three years of life, it coincides
with the years that are critical to speech and
language development.
Children learn through hearing and mimicking
the speech sounds and language used by
others. A child who gets frequent episodes of
otitis media will experience periodic hearing
loss. This inevitably places them at risk of
speech and language developmental delays.
A child who has persistent otitis media may
require a longer period of time to understand
instructions, or have poor speech production.
They may also display inattentiveness or an
inability to detect where a sound is coming
from.
Otitis media and related hearing loss can be
diagnosed by an audiologist. For children
with frequent bouts of otitus media, the
child’s general practitioner and ear nose and
throat specialist may consider grommets
to reduce the fl uid build-up and hence the
conductive hearing loss experienced during
the course of the ear infections.
Children with persistent otitis media may
also be referred to a speech pathologist for
early intervention services to ensure that their
speech and language developmental needs
are been met.
Have you ever noticed abnormal redness of your child’s ear or exhibiting signs of dizziness, pain or a loss of balance following a bout of cold or fl u?
By Benjamin ElseyClinical Director, Hearing Conservation Australia
Worrying signsWorrying signs
A child who has persistent otitis media may require a longer period of time to understand instructions, or have poor speech production. They may also display inattentiveness or an inability to detect where a sound is coming from.
11
Myth 1: The ears grow accustomed to
loud noise.
Response: The ears cannot grow
accustomed to loud noise… you don’t
get used to it.
Some people have the mistaken impression
their ears toughen up and grow accustomed
to loud noise over time. In reality, the
ears have no mechanism for growing
accustomed to noise. A person who claims
their ears have ‘toughened up’ most likely
has lost some hearing over time.
Myth 2: The fi rst thing that happens is
loss of volume.
Response: The fi rst symptom of noise-
induced hearing loss is not loss of
volume… it is loss of clarity.
The most common complaint of those who
have lost hearing due to loud noise is: “I can
hear you, but I just can’t understand.” Noise
damages our ability to hear speech and
conversation clearly.
Myth 3: In hearing protection, bigger is
better.
Response: In hearing protection, bigger
is not necessarily better.
Some people have the mistaken belief that
because earmuffs are bigger than earplugs,
they must block more noise. In hearing
protection, the seal of the ear canal is more
critical than the size of the protector. A well-
fi tted foam earplug blocks more noise than a
typical earmuff.
Myth 4: Halfway in is halfway there.
Response: An earplug inserted
only halfway does not offer half the
protection.
In order to better hear co-workers or
warning signals, some wearers insert the
earplugs only halfway believing they will
still get half the protection. But in hearing
protection, fi t is often all or nothing. Even
a small break in the acoustic seal of an
earplug will cause the wearer to achieve
little or no protection.
Myth 5: For earplugs, one size fi ts all.
Response: There is no such thing as a
one-size-fi ts-all earplug.
Ear canals come in different sizes and there
is no such thing as an earplug that can
fi t everybody – even an expandable foam
earplug. For example, women typically
have smaller ear canals and have a diffi cult
time achieving a good fi t with a large foam
earplug. Manufacturers offer earplugs in
different sizes to help users achieve the
optimal fi t.
Myth 6: Hearing aids will restore normal
hearing.
Response: Hearing aids do not restore
normal hearing.
Some noise-exposed workers ignore the
dangers of loud noise by rationalising they
can simply get a hearing aid later. While
hearing aids do help, they certainly do not
restore normal hearing. Even with the benefi t
of a hearing aid, speech and conversation
can sound distorted, especially in the
presence of background noise.
Test your knowledge about how best to protect your hearing as we bust some common myths.
By Brad WittDirector, Hearing Conservation, Honeywell Safety Products
Their improved performance includes better
fi delity with the ability to amplify a wider
range of frequencies with lower distortion.
Almost all hearing aids fi tted today are digital
devices, with even the most simple systems
containing miniature computer chips which
process incoming sounds. Most of this
processing aims to make speech clear and
comfortable for the listener.
Recent advances in technology include
adaptive directional microphones where
a hearing aid microphone changes its
sensitivity depending on the listening
environment. For example, in a quiet room,
the microphone is equally sensitive to sounds
coming from all directions. Whereas, if a
listener is trying to have a conversation in
a noisy coffee shop, the microphone will
adapt so it is most sensitive to the voice of
a speaker sitting close to the hearing aid
wearer and less sensitive to non-speech
sounds.
Adaptive microphones becomes less
effective when the background noise includes
unwanted speech and the hearing aid is left
to try to work out which conversation the
listener wants to hear and which needs to
be reduced. Even so, current hearing aids
are much more comfortable to use in noisy
situations than analog predecessors.
Bluetooth technology is another feature
increasingly used in hearing aids. Current
devices have wireless communication
with Bluetooth streaming devices that can
be paired to Bluetooth mobile phones,
laptops or music players. This offers a major
improvement for the listener who can pick up
the signal in both ears with a reduction in the
background noise. For example, a listener’s
mobile phone can be in another room and
the listener will be able to answer their call via
their streaming device and have a hands-free
conversation.
Hearing aids small in size have always been
a major desire for most listeners. Although
this feature doesn’t make a hearing aid
smarter, it does offer greater convenience.
Recent devices are so small they can be
inserted deep into the ear canal and worn
continuously for months at a time without the
need to change a battery.
Not all features are suitable for everyone.
However, there is a wide range of hearing aid
styles and processing systems from which
a listener can choose. Which device is best
depends on the severity and type of hearing
impairment, the different listening situations
experienced by the listener and the anatomy
and size of an individual’s ears.
Electronic hearing aids have been worn for more than 100 years and during this time they have become increasingly smaller and smarter.
By Dr Helen GouliosClinical Coordinator, Master of Clinical Audiology Course, University of Western Australia
How intelligent are hearing aids?How intelligent are hearing aids?
Recent devices are so small they can be inserted deep into the ear canal and worn continuously for months at a time without the need to change a battery.
Busting common myths aboutBusting common myths about hearing protectionhearing protection
These are no ordinary headsets. They are Sensear high noise communication devices powered by SENS™ technology (speech enhancement, noise suppression) which isolates and enhances speech while suppressing background noise so workers can hear speech and stay protected in high noise environments.
Founded in Perth in 2006, Sensear has embedded its ground breaking SENS™ technology into a range of devices that deliver an effective way to reduce the cost of noise for many of the world’s leading industrial companies.
By enabling more effi cient communication in high noise, Sensear is enhancing clients’ productivity. In addressing the major reasons why workers remove their hearing protection, Sensear also delivers a more effective hearing protection solution with increased worker adoption. And because Sensear products enable workers to hear what’s going on around them while staying protected, they mitigate the risk of accidents and fatalities.
Sensear delivers an easy to adopt noise management solution for corporations where noise is a major workplace issue.
Meet the World’s Smartest Noise Management Team
www.sensear.com 1 300 859 120
d bti d i SENNS ( h h™ t h l ( thi h
AWARENESS COMMUNICATION PROTECTION. .
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The reality is effective noise management
is somewhere in between. Despite major
developments in electronic equipment to
measure noise, managing noise hazards still
requires technical skill to understand noise
refl ection and refraction patterns, frequency
dependency on hearing loss, characteristics
of different absorbent materials and hearing
protection factors. When technical excellence
is coupled with clear communication,
practical and easy to understand solutions to
noise management follow suit.
Effective communication is as simple as ABC:
accuracy, brevity and clarity.
The consequences of workplace noise and
the practical solutions to control it should be
communicated in plain language, keeping it
direct and simple.
Experts in noise management should be the
ones to worry about the technicalities and
should demystify the scientifi c jargon for
clients by using straightforward language that
can be easily understood by anyone who is
not a noise engineer.
Factors that should be considered in any
noise solution include technology, cost,
location and workforce skill. Solutions to
control noise within the workplace or the
wider environment are often cost-effective
and easily implemented.
Simple solutions to manage noise could
include seals and closers on doors and
windows, soft furnishings, rubber mats
on hard surface fl oors, added insulation
(including fi tting of noise absorbent ceiling
tiles) and teaching people how to wear
hearing protection correctly.
Managing noise in the workplace or the wider environment is often steeped in mysterious symbols, equations and acronyms, or dismissed as simple to manage – “if it’s too loud to talk then it’s too loud – wear earplugs”.
By Paul FoleyWHS Principal, Coffey Environments
Effective noise managementEffective noise management
Experts in noise management should be the ones to worry about the technicalities and should demystify the scientifi c jargon for clients by using straightforward language that can be easily understood by anyone.
13
Aural rehabilitation is the process of
facilitating better hearing through use of
devices, education and listening training.
Depending on the type of hearing diffi culties
and the root cause you are experiencing,
rehabilitation programs can involve:
• Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), such
as headphones for hearing the television,
can be used with or without hearing aids.
These devices provide extra help in specifi c
listening situations, such as listening over
the telephone or in small or large group
listening settings.
• Hearing strategies are methods people
can use to increase their understanding
of speech. Many people whose hearing is
fading but do not yet require amplifi cation
can obtain genuine benefi t from basic
tactics, while for people with poor hearing,
well-developed tactics are almost essential.
• Hearing aids. The defi ning feature of
modern types of hearing aids is they are
usually digital, personal amplifi ers worn at
ear level. Every hearing loss is different and
people react to sound in different ways.
Modern hearing aids can be tuned for each
specifi c person far more accurately than
other devices, giving a custom fi t for each
person. When discussing amplifi cation
options with your audiologist, keep in
mind hearing aids come in a wide range
of brands, size, power, style, colour and
technology levels There are also a range of
accessories available to support specifi c
listening needs. Your audiologist will step
through all the options with you.
• If hearing aids and ALDs seem to be
insuffi cient, implantable devices may be an
option. The past three decades have seen
the development of implantable hearing
devices progress from a medical and
engineering challenge to a proven clinical
solution that has reconnected thousands
of people with a hearing impairment to the
world of sound.
It is also important to learn how to get
the very best from each solution. It is not
uncommon for a single person to use more
than one method. Ask your audiologist about
ways to get the most out of your hearing.
Acknowledging the impact of living with hearing loss can be the hardest part of the journey. It takes the average person between six to 10 years to come to terms with their hearing loss and reach the point at which they seek and accept help.
By Bec BennettManager of Audiological Services, Ear Science Institute Australia/Lions Hearing Clinic
Hearing loss – where to next?Hearing loss – where to next?
Did you know...Did you know...The smallest bone in the human body is the stirrup bone (the stapes), one of three tiny bones that make up the middle ear. These take the sound vibrations that enter the outer ear, concentrate and intensify them, before directing them to the inner ear (cochlear).
Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienistswww.aioh.org.au
Striving for a healthy workplace
Occupational HygieneThe art and science dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation,
communication and control of environmental stressors arising from the
workplace that may result in injury, illness, impairment or affect the well being
of workers or members of the community.
AIOH Objectives• To promote the profession of Occupational Hygiene in industry, government and the
general community.
• To improve the practice of Occupational Hygiene and the knowledge, competence
and standing of its practitioners.
• To provide a forum for the exchange of Occupational Hygiene information and ideas.
• To promote the application of Occupational Hygiene principles to improve and
maintain a safe and healthy workplace.
• To represent the profession nationally and internationally.
Coming EventAIOH Annual Conference, 1-5 December 2012, AdelaideTheme: Meeting global challenges in occupational hygiene
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Supporting Hearing Awareness Week19 – 25 August 2012
For further information■ Sandy: 0404 485 441 ■ sandy@hearsafeaustralia.com.au■ Gabrielle: 0407 528 926 ■ gabrielle@hearsafeaustralia.com.au
THE WORLDS FINEST HEARING PROTECTION
Hearsafe supply and fi t ELACIN custom made FlexComfort hearing protection
made in Australia. Comfortable, safe, competitively priced,
serviced annually, excellent warranty.Tested to AS/NZS 1269.
CURRENT CLIENTS: INDUSTRY • AVIATION • ARMY • NAVY •
AIRFORCE • MOTORBIKE RIDERS • MUSICIANS
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HEARSAFE works with these organisations
www.hearsafeaustralia.com.au
PTY LTDHEARSAFE AUSTRALIA
1414
If you and your team have introduced
measures to reduce noise exposure and
you would like to share this to help other
workplaces, please contact pam.gunn@
commerce.wa.gov.au.
Any case studies received would be added
to those already on WorkSafe’s noise
website at www.commerce.wa.gov.au.
Noise in the workplace is responsible for a
signifi cant number of work compensation
claims for hearing loss in WA – 71 in
2010/11 at a cost of $1.6 million.
Noise can cause tinnitus (ringing in the
ears), stress. It can also be a safety hazard
at work, interfering with communication,
acting as a distraction and making warnings
harder to hear.
Reducing noise levels at the source
provides the most effective way of
protecting workers’ hearing, as well as
providing numerous other benefi ts to
workplaces.
The website currently provides lots of useful
information, including ‘An Introduction to
Noise at Work’ and answers to frequently
asked questions.
To help get workplaces started, there is a
directory of individuals and organisations
that offer noise assessment services and
information on ‘buy quiet’ procedures. Your
case studies would add to those already
documenting successful noise management
in the WA construction and manufacturing
industries.
The website also provides links to the two
approved Codes of Practice – ‘Managing
Noise at Workplaces’ and ‘Control of Noise
in the Music Entertainment Industry’ – a
practical guide on acceptable ways of
achieving compliance with Occupational
Health and Safety (OHS) legal requirements.
More resources, including a podcast and
PowerPoint presentation ‘Keeping it Quiet’,
are available on the new Safetyline website
at www.safetyline.wa.gov.au.
WorkSafe is looking to collect new case studies on practical and effective engineering noise control in Western Australian workplaces.
By Pam GunnSenior Scientifi c Offi cer, Noise, WorkSafe Division, Department of Commerce
Share your good news stories!Share your good news stories!
Controlling noise at home or in the workplace can be confusing and the language of acoustics can be puzzling with its decibels (dB), frequencies and wavelengths.
By Jim McLoughlinBusiness Unit Leader, Acoustics, SVT Engineering Consultants
Noise control is considered by many to be one of the black arts, but this doesn’t have to be the case.
There are some simple techniques that can be used in many situations that do not require specialised knowledge or training.
When a noisy piece of equipment is operated in a room, the noise level near it is strongly affected by its location within the room.
The walls, fl oor and ceiling of the room can refl ect sound towards its source causing noise levels to be higher than they would be if the same piece of equipment were operated in a wide-open space.
The nearer the piece of equipment is to a large refl ective surface such as a wall, the stronger the refl ected sound will be.
The worst position for a noise source is in the corner of a room adjacent to two walls and the fl oor or ceiling. The best position for a noise source is as far away as possible from refl ective surfaces.
A very simple and effective noise control is to move noise sources away from walls, fl oors and ceilings.
This technique can be used effectively in workshops and sheds.
For example, if you need to do some drilling or grinding on the bench on your workshop, see if you can move the bench away from the walls. Even moving the source of noise by as little as one metre will help.
Another principle that can be used effectively relates to how different types of sound radiate outward from the source.
High-pitched sounds are often produced by sources that will radiate sound much more effectively in a particular direction, whereas low-pitched sounds are much more likely to radiate sound equally in all directions.
So, if you have a noise source that produces high-pitched sound, you can use this principle to direct the sound away from others.
These simple controls can go a long way towards reducing noise exposure and you don’t need to be an expert to implement them.
Noise control – keeping it simpleNoise control – keeping it simple
EFFECTIVE NOISE MANAGEMENT
Good science + clear communication = straightforward solutions to noise management.
For more information on our practical noise solutions visit www.coffey.com
15
Unfortunately, hard gleaming surfaces are
not traditionally known to absorb noise,
and industrial sites are noisy. The normal
approach to absorbing noise is through the
use of foams, fi bres and fabrics – all things
we know don’t last long in hot, wet, salty, or
dusty environments.
Enter stage right a 180-year-old
mathematician, Helmholtz and an Australian
manufacturing and engineering group today,
Quiet Acoustics, who are producing the
world’s fi rst non-fi brous, noise-cancelling
structural panel for industry using the
mathematicians theory known as Helmholtz
resonance.
You may not have heard of Helmholtz but
you have undoubtedly blown across a half
empty bottle at some stage to make a hum.
This is Helmholtz resonance and is the action
of the mass of air in the neck of the bottle,
bouncing on the cushion, or spring, of air in
the bottle chamber. This mass on a spring
produces a frequency of sound.
Using modern manufacturing techniques,
you can now build lightweight structural
panels using aluminium honeycomb cores,
sandwiched between two skins of aluminium,
and guess what? If you micro-perforate one
skin, the combination of honeycomb cells
and perforations produces a panel with
thousands of tiny bottles, which mimics the
noise hitting the panel, to cancel the next
sound wave.
So now we can build large fi bre-free industrial
and marine structures, which naturally cancel
noise on their own.
When we think of industrial sites, such as mine processing plants or oil and gas platforms, we picture large gleaming Meccano sets of durable metal and pipes.
By Dr Mike HaywoodDirector, Quiet Acoustics
F lipping noise back on itselfF lipping noise back on itself
You may not have heard of Helmholtz but you have undoubtedly blown across a half empty bottle at some stage to make a hum.
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Hearing Awareness Week 2012Sunday 19 to Saturday 25 August
� Hearing Awareness Week is an annual event to raise community awareness of hearing impairment and ways to
protect your hearing.
Deafness Council WA Inc was established in 1974 and is a coordinating body whose role is facilitating the work of Deaf and Hearing Impaired people and agencies. Deafness Council has been involved in the promotion of Hearing Awareness week since 1979 through campaigns, scholarships and awards including the Better Hearing Australia WA Clear Speech Awards and Harry Blackmore Award.
For further information contact Deafness Council Western Australia Inc on:contact@deafnesscouncilwa.org.au or visit www.deafnesscouncilwa.org.au
Have you heard?Hearing loss affects everyone
Featuring:
• Free hearing checks ... discover how audiometric
testing is carried out and how the results are
interpreted.
• Free iPod & MP3 noise checks...
bring your equipment to the Expo for testing
Demonstrations:
• How to measure noise levels
• Hear speech clearly & safely in
noisy environments
• How to select hearing protection that is
right for you and much more…
� Did you know?One in six Australians is Deaf, deaf/blind, hearing impaired or has a chronic ear disorder.Hearing Awareness Week provides
an opportunity for the 22 per cent of
Australians aged 15 and over who are Deaf
or have a hearing impairment to share
their experiences and knowledge and help
to create a greater understanding of their
needs, aspirations and the contributions
they can make within the community.
Join us at the:
Where:
QV1 Foyer, Perth
Date:
Tuesday 21
August &
Wednesday
22 August
Time:
10am to 3pm
However, to get appropriate performance
from these devices, there are several
elements that need to be addressed:
• Attenuation – what level of noise reduction
is needed?
• Fit – is the product fi tted correctly?
• Comfort – the product must be
comfortable or it will not be worn
• Compatibility – there may be other
personal protective equipment, such as
safety eyewear or a respirator, that also
need to be worn without degrading the
protection level
• Wear and Tear – the product should be
regularly inspected and maintained or
replaced when degraded.
Australian Standard AS/NZS 1269.3
gives detailed guidance on these aspects.
However, recent developments in
technology have given us another way to
view the attenuation and fi t elements.
Currently, hearing protectors are tested for
attenuation to AS/NZS 1270 by using a
panel of 16 to 20 test subjects with normal
hearing.
Each subject is exposed to sound at various
frequencies and volumes to determine their
threshold of hearing and then retested – this
time with the hearing protector in place.
The difference between these signals
(protected and unprotected) is the
attenuation of the product. These results for
the whole panel are then averaged to give
an attenuation value called the SLC80.
This averaging step means some test
subjects achieved a higher attenuation
than the published SLC80 value, but some
received a lower attenuation. In practice, this
means a proportion of users will get lower
attenuation than the published SLC80 rating
and are therefore at risk of overexposure to
noise.
This is not surprising – like shoes, we cannot
expect one type or size of protector to
perfectly fi t everyone. Variations in the size
and shape of the individual’s ear canal mean
some types and sizes of earplugs will not
seal effectively and should not be used.
Recent advances in design and capability of
miniature microphones and electronics now
allow us to measure the attenuation given
by a particular model or size of earplug for a
specifi c individual.
Using an appropriate fi t testing device we
can now determine the Personal Attenuation
Rating (PAR) for the individual and if this
PAR is acceptable for their noise exposure.
Rather than using the averaged SLC80
value, we can now see if Plug A gives
enough attenuation for the noise exposure,
or that perhaps Plug A does not fi t well
enough and using Plug B (or C etc.) does
provide suitable protection.
Early indications show a signifi cant
percentage of workers using earplugs
currently do not achieve the SLC80 value
and are therefore at risk of overexposure.
This new technology can assist in providing
the worker with hearing protection that
has been individually assessed for fi t and
attenuation.
It has been shown hearing protectors can provide a suitable level of protection to workers exposed to noise.
By Terry GormanSenior Occupational Hygienist, 3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division
Advances in technologyAdvances in technolog y
Did you know...Did you know...The organ for hearing (cochlear) and the organ for balance (vestibular system) are actually part of the same structure.
They also share the same fl uid. This is why when we become ill, both hearing and balance can be affected.
Variations in the size and shape of the individual’s ear canal mean some types and sizes of earplugs will not seal eff ectively and should not be used.