Effects of Noise on Hearing
Good communication is essential in military
activities. Apart from a reduction in effectiveness,
miscommunication can have a major impact on personal safety
and ultimately compromise the success of a mission. Exposure
to noise, even for short periods of time, can lead to hearing
impairment, known as temporary threshold shift (TTS).
The amount of TTS is a function of noise
exposure time and the sound level of the noise
source. Fortunately, hearing will recover
if further exposure is prevented. The period of recovery
is dependant upon the amount of TTS, ranging from just a few
minutes through, in extreme cases, to a recovery time of many
hours.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
For personnel exposed to a high level
noise with a high TTS or where the TTS has not completely recovered
before further exposure to noise, a permanent threshold shift (PTS
) can occur. This is a result of the hearing organ
beginning to degenerate and this damage is irreversible and
can eventually result in a loss of hearing.
Further reading