Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c47g7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-20T03:46:38.299Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hearing loss on the flight deck – origin and remedy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

M. Bagshaw  and
M. C. Lower
M. Bagshaw
Affiliation:
Head of Occupational and Aviation Medicine, British Airways, Harmondsworth, UK
M. C. Lower
Affiliation:
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Hampshire, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Routine periodic audiometry performed as part of the statutory medical examination of flight crew employed by a major international airline indicated that up to 27–5% may suffer noise induced hearing loss, with 10-8% showing unilateral hearing loss. This was considered to result from the practice of listening to radio communications through a headset covering one ear only, leaving the other ear uncovered to allow direct conversation between crew members on the flightdeck. Ambient noise levels at the crew seats and noise levels from crew headsets were measured on a sample of aircraft and routes using a Kemar acoustic manikin. Noise levels on the flightdecks were 70-79dB(A) Leqaveraged over a flight of typically seven to ten hours duration. Noise levels from headsets were 77-89dB(A) Leq being 80dB(A) or higher on 80% of flights, and 85dB(A) or higher on 40% of flights. Five prototype or production active noise reducing (ANR) headsets were evaluated in flight and in the laboratory. It was shown that the better examples, worn to cover both ears, would allow flight crew to reduce headset volumes so reducing risk to their hearing.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 106 , Issue 1059 , May 2002 , pp. 277 - 290
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2002 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Manual of Civil Aviation Medicine, 1985, International Civil Aviation Organisation, Montreal, Doc 894-AN/895.Google Scholar
2. Guidance Notes for Authorised Medical Examiners, 1993, Civil Aviation Authority, Gatwick Airport, UK.Google Scholar
3. Miller, J.D. Effects of noise on people, J Acoust Soc Am, 1974, 56, (3), pp 729–763.Google Scholar
4. Ward, W.D. Auditory fatigue and masking, In: Modern developments in audiology, Jerger, J. (Ed), 1963, Academic New York, pp 240–286.Google Scholar
5. Mills, J.H.,Gengel, R.W., Watson, C.S. and Miller, J.D. Temporary changes of the auditory system due to exposure to noise for one or two days, J Acoust Soc Am, 1970, 48, pp 524–530.Google Scholar
6. Mosko, J.D., Fletcher, J.L. and Luz, G.A. Growth and recovery of temporary threshold shifts following extended exposure to high-level, continuous noise, US AMRL Rep 911, 1970, Fort Knox, Ky: 9 pp.Google Scholar
7. Fabini, G. Laryngoscope, 1931, 4, 663.Google Scholar
8. Fisch, U. Acta Otolaryngol, 1972, 73, 259.Google Scholar
9. Lawton, B.W. Typical hearing thresholds: a baseline for the assessment of noise-induced hearing loss, ISVR Technical Report No 272, 1998, Southampton, UK.Google Scholar
10.International Organisation for Standardisation, Acoustics: Determination of occupational noise exposure and estimation of noise induced hearing impairment, ISO 1999, Geneva, International Organisation for Standardisation, 1990.Google Scholar
11. Wilkins, P.A. The effects of noise on people, Chapter 30 in Noise and Vibration, 1982, White, R.G. and Walker, J.G. (Eds), Ellis Horwood, Chichester, UK, ISBN 0-85312-502-3.Google Scholar
12. Wilkins, P.A. and Martin, A.M. The effects of hearing protectors on the masked thresholds of acoustic warning signals, 9th International congress of acoustics, Madrid, Spain, 1977.Google Scholar
13. Wagstaff, A.S. and Woxen, O.J. Double hearing protection and speech intelligibility - room for improvement. Proc 45th International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine, 1997, Oslo, Norway.Google Scholar
14. Rood, G. Noise and communication. Chapter 24 in Aviation Medicine, 1988, 2nd edition, Ernsting, J. and King, P.F. (Eds), Butterworths, London, UK, ISBN 0-407-01470-5.Google Scholar
15. Lueg, P. Process of silencing sound oscillation, US Patent no 2043 416, 1936.Google Scholar
16. Wagstaff, A.S., Woxen, J. and Andersen, H.T. Effect of active noise reduction on noise levels at the tympanic membrane, Aviat Space Environ Med, 1998, 69, (6), pp 539–544.Google Scholar
17. Pelausa, E.O., Abel, S.M. Simard, J. and Dempsey, I. Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss in the Canadian military, J Otolaryngology, 1995, 24, (5), pp 271–280.Google Scholar
18.The Noise at Work Regulations, 1989, Statutory Instruments 1989 No. 1790; Health and Safety, HMSO ISBN 0-11-097790-4.Google Scholar
19. Council of the European Community, Council Directive of 12 May 1986 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to noise at work (86/188/EEC), Official J European Communities, No LI 37, 24 June 1986, 28–34.Google Scholar
20. Ricem, C.G., Breslin, M. and Roper, R.G. Sound levels from personal cassette players, British J of Audiology, 1987, 21, pp 273–278.Google Scholar
21. Burkhard, M.D. and Sachs, R.M. Anthropometric manikin for acoustic research, J Acoustical Society of America, 1975, 58, pp 214–222.Google Scholar
22.Bruel and Kjaer Technical Documentation, Sound level calibrator Type 4231.Google Scholar
23.Bruel and Kjaer Technical Review No 1, 1960.Google Scholar
24.Health and Safety Executive, 1989, Noise at Work, Noise Guide No. 1, Legal duties of employers to prevent damage to hearing, Noise Guide No 2, Legal duties of designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers to prevent damage to hearing, (published together in one booklet) HMSO ISBN 0-11-885512-3.Google Scholar
25. Robinson, D.W., Lawton, B.W. and Rice, C.G. Occupational hearing loss from low-level noise, HSE contract Research Report no 68/1994, 1994, HSE Books, ISBN 0-7176-0885-9.Google Scholar
26. Council of the European Community, Proposal for a Council Directive on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (93/C77/02) COM(92) 560 final - SYN 449, Official J European Communities, No C 77, 18 March 1993, 12–29.Google Scholar
27.Department of Employment 1972, Code of Practice for reducing the exposure of employed persons to noise, (subsequently republished unchanged by HSE), HMSO.Google Scholar
28. Lane, H. and Tranel, B. The Lombard sign and the role of hearing in speech, J Speech and Hearing Research, 1971, 14, pp 677–709.Google Scholar