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Discussion

Results. Problem Occupational noise exposure is a primary factor in permanent hearing loss. This study attempts to determine whether long term hearing loss in loggers is associated with noise emitted by logging equipment. Methodology.

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Discussion

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  1. Results • Problem • Occupational noise exposure is a primary factor in permanent hearing loss. • This study attempts to determine whether long term hearing loss in loggers is associated with noise emitted by logging equipment. Methodology Hearing Threshold Shift of Loggers Exposed to Long-term NoiseCornelis F. de Hoop, LSU AgCenter; Feyerdoun Aghazadeh, Antonio A. Fonseca and Laura Ikuma,Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Literature Review Discussion Abstract To evaluate hearing loss, the hearing capacity of each participant was measured by the obtaining the lowest possible hearing (in decibels) needed to hear a pure tone signal at predetermined frequencies. The participants were 26 male forestry workers (loggers aged 20 through 59) who are directly involved with the operation of logging equipment. The equipment includes chainsaws, loaders, skidders and cutters. There was a significant increase in hearing threshold in the participant population, as compared to a normal population. Furthermore, at 4000 Hz, the mean hearing threshold of the participants was significantly higher than at the rest of the frequencies. The hearing threshold shifts at 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz were 4.9, 9.5 and 18.0 dB respectively. Hearing threshold shifts of 50 to 59 year olds was significantly higher than of 20 to 29 year olds by a 13 dB difference. A significant decrease in the hearing threshold (of 3.4 dB) was found between those participants who wore hearing protection and those who did not. A significant decrease in the hearing threshold shift was found in experience groups 1 (1 to 10 yrs of experience) and 3 (21 to 30 yrs of experience) between those participants who wore hearing protection and those who did not. • Conclusions • Significant hearing threshold shift found in loggers operating heavy equipment. • Hearing threshold tends to increase more rapidly at 4000 Hz. • Gradually decreasing as frequencies decrease. • Reaching a low peak at 750 Hz and slowly increasing again at lower frequencies. • The use of hearing protection helps minimize threshold shift, especially at higher frequencies such as 4000 Hz. Acknowledgements This project was sponsored by Louisiana State University Department of Industrial Engineering in cooperation with the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources and the LSU AgCenter. Thanks to the following cooperators: Slaughter Logging, LLC (Dennis Aucoin) KS Logging (Malcolm Sibley) Timberwolf Thinning Co. (Jason Doughty) Louisiana Logging Council Dr. Ashish Nimbarte..

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