• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of vision and hearing limitation on the onset of disability among Korean elderly with the consideration of social participation and depression. Study population consisted of 2,670 people aged 65 and above who participated in both the 1st(2006) and 2nd(2008) wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging(KLoSA), and also reported no ADL or IADL disability in 2006. As the results, first, it found that vision and hearing limitation, social participation, and depression were significant risk factors for the onset of IADL disability in unadjusted analysis. After multivariable adjustment, however, only vision limitation showed significant association with the onset of IADL disability. Second, in the logistic analysis with four categorized variables(vision/hearing limitation + social participation, vision/hearing limitation + depression), the elderly who had vision or hearing limitation had a significantly 1.7 times higher odds ratio for disability onset if they also had low social participation compared with those who had no vision or hearing limitation, and high social participation. Whereas, depression was not significantly associated with the relationship between vision or hearing limitation, and disability onset. The study suggests that the intervention program developed to prevent social isolation of older people with vision or hearing limitation, may be helpful to reduce and postpone the risk of disability onset as well as early detection and treatment of vision or hearing problems.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.1 s.56
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• pp.61-67
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• 1997

This study was performed to evaluate the effects on hearing of video tape manufacturing workers exposed to organic solvents. The experimental groups included solvents exposed group 51 and unexposed group 57 workers. All workers was examined air and bone conduction sensitivity by pure tone audiometer. The mean age of solvents exposed group was 34.1 and nonexposed group was 35.8. The mean duration of solvents exposed group was 7.3years. High frequency hearing loss prevalence of both groups was 23.5% in the group exposed to organic solvents and 17.5% in nonexposed group. There is no statistical significants in the prevalence of high frequency hearing loss. According to comparison of mean auditory threshold value by frequencies, on the air conduction test, right was statistically significant in the 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000Hz, except 8000Hz. Left 250, 500, 1000Hz was statistically significant. On the bone conduction test, left 250, both 500, 1000, 2000, 4000Hz, except right 250Hz, was statistically significant difference. Generally, auditory sensitivity threshold of the exposed group was higher than the nonexposed group.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2003

Objectives : Impaired hearing is a prevalent occupational hazard, not only in industry, but also in the armed forces. In military life, noise has unusual characteristics, and constitutes a serious hazard to hearing. The aim of this study was to analyze the hearing threshold data in order to compare the hearing loss among shipyard workers, representing different workers, and a military service background. Methods : A cross-sectional audiological survey, combined with a questionnaire study, was conducted on a stratified random sample of 440 shipyard workers, with long-term exposure to noise. The employees were divided into four groups, according to their working and military service backgrounds, in relation to their exposure to noise. Results : As expected, the working and military noise exposure group (Group I) had significantly poorer hearing than the other groups. The high frequencies (2-8 kHz) showed the greatest difference in terms of poorer fearing in both ears. The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) was highest in Group I. A logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the dependence of the NIHL in relation to age, smoking, drinking, working duration, ear protection, past history of ear diseases, and working and military sonics backgrounds, on the noise exposure The important factors found to be related to the NIHL, in relation to noise exposure were: age, work duration, and working and military service backgrounds. The adjusted odds ratio estimates for NIML in the right ear were 4.5 times greater (95% CI 1.7-11.6) for the military noise exposed group, and 7.9 times greater (95% CI 2.0-31.3) for the working noise exposed group than in the controls. The hearing thresholds at the pure-tone average and 4 kHz were significantly increased with age and work duration with both the working and military service backgrounds. Conclusions : From these results, specific preventive programs were planned, which should be assessed by epidemiological surveillance of the military noise exposed population.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.2 s.61
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• pp.249-264
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• 1998

Reports on a potential relationship between sensory neural hearing loss(SNHL) and cardiovascular or hematologic factor show that the results are controversial. A detailed analysis of risk factors in the development of SNHL was carried out in 3,050 non-noise exposed healthy worker. The mean hearing threshold of both ears at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000Hz was measured and the effect of age, possible cardiovascular risk factor and hematologic factor (blood viscosity and hemostatic factors) on SNHL were evaluated. first, each of these were associated with loss of hearing sensitivity when univariately and multivariatively analysed. In a multiple regression model, age, sex, body mass index, WBC and total cholesterol level were independently associated with the mean of hearing sensitivity decrease at 4000 and 8000Hz. Second, study subjects were divided into two group (normal vs SNHL) and we compare the possible risk between both groups, and analysed univariate and multivariative logistic model. In a multiple logistic regression model, age, sex, body mass index, WBC and total cholesterol level, total protein, platelet were independently associated with SNHL. Our results show that we have some reliable indices of susceptibility to SNHL using cardiovascular measures or biochemical factor, but future, more extensive studies are required.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.973-992
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• 2010

The hearing impairment is the representative disorder that affects the quality of the routine life of the aged period. This study was aimed to develop the Korean evaluation scale for hearing handicap(KESHH) with which we can evaluate social and psychological effects of the hearing impairment. Applying this scale clinically, we can analyze the geriatric hearing loss specifically and improve the quality of the aural rehabilitation that can help the hardness of the hearing impairment. Data were collected from 288 participants(176 hearing aid users and 112 non-hearing aid users) and the average age of the participants was 67.4 years old ( 60.15 for the hearing aids users and 78.9 for the non hearing users). The composition ratio of the male and female participants were 58.0% and 42.0% and extrovert and introvert personality were 49.3% and 50.7% showing balanced formation. The tentative draft of KESHH measurements were produced with 30 items and following 5 subscales. Using factor analysis, 6 items were erased and 4 subscales - social effect, psycho/emotional effect, interpersonal effect, and perception of hearing aids - were identified. As each subscale consisted of 6 items, 24 items were corrected and remained totally. Conclusively, the KESHH was developed with 24 items and 4 subscales including 6 items on each subscale. In addition, the KESHH was divided into type-1 and 2 depending on hearing aid users and non hearing aid users. The results of this study can be summarized as the following 5 parts. Firstly, the reliabilities of the KESHH were proved to be high because the subscales' Cronbach alpha values were from 0.723 through 0.895. Secondly, the KESHH showed systematically increasing score as the hearing impairment increased. The lowest score was 24 and the highest score was 117 and the average scores of the hearing impaired and non-hearing impaired are 72.06(SD=15.67) and 66.98(SD=20.94) showing 5.08 increased score for the hearing impaired. Depending on the degree of the hearing loss, the scores recorded 52.63 at the below of the mild hearing loss, 67.29 for the moderate hearing loss, 71.89 for the moderately severe hearing loss, and 75.57 for the severe hearing loss The comparison of the scores by hearing levels indicated that the higher the hearing levels were, the higher the scores of the KESHH with statistical significance(p<0.001). Thirdly, the correlation among 4 subscales was 0.384~0.880(p<0.001). Also, the pure tone average, personality, and the four subscales correlations showed statistical significance with 0.148~0.880 except for the pure tone average and personality and the pure tone average and perception of hearing aids. Fourthly, the total variances explained for the independent subscles were analyzed with multiple regression. The social effect was explained 17.4% with pure tone average, personality, and the status of hearing aid use variances. The psycho/emotional effect was explained 14.4% with puretone average, personality, and age variances. The interpersonal effect was explained 11.2% with pure tone average, personality, and the status of hearing aid use variances. The perception of hearing aids effect was explained 2.2% with only personality. Finally, test-retest reliability was proved to be high with 0.791(p<0.001). Conclusively, the KESHH that was developed considering Korean culture can be a useful instrument for expressing the hearing handicaps of the Korean aged hearing impaired in scores for both hearing aid users and non-users. Also, it is thought that the KESHH is useful clinically for identifying the changes of the hearing handicap scores before and after wearing hearing aids and aural rehabilitation at diverse situations.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.699-706
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• 2016

This study aimed to propose the necessity and system establishment of noise reduction facility via evaluating noise level exposed by the radiographer due to MRI scan. Noise measurements were carried out using at S general hospital in Daejeon using 1.5 Tesla MRI (7 exams) and 3.0 Tesla MRI (16 exams), while using SC-804 noise meter. The measurement distance was from the soundproof door of the MRI room to the radiographer which measured 100cm, and the measurement height, the height to the radiographer's ears when working, 100cm. The noise measured for each exam was an average of three measures per exam which observed the noise occurring in each sequence recorded every 20 seconds. As the results, the maximum of noise exposed by the radiographer is 73.3 dB(A), which is MRCP by the 3.0 Tesla device, and also the maximum of average noise is 66.9(3.1) dB(A), which is Myelogram by the 3.0 Tesla device. Average noise by each device is 61.9(4.1) dB(A) by the 3.0 Tesla device and 52.0(3.1) dB(A) by the 1.5 Tesla device, which comes to the result that the 3.0 Tesla MRI device is about 10 dB(A) degree higher(p <0.001). The noise level exposed by the radiographer does not affect auditory acuity, but the level is able to incur a non auditory effect. The reflect sound can be removed by installing curtains in the rear wall of MRI control room in order to reduce the noises, but, first of all, An institutional system is needed in order to prevent noise.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.328-336
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• 2011

Purpose: An association between very low birth weight infants(VLBWI) and hearing loss has long been recognized. Early identification and intervention for hearing loss benefits language and speech/cognitive development. We investigated the risk factors and clinical outcomes of hearing loss among VLBWI. Methods: We analyzed the results of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing of VLBWI. These infants were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between December 2008 and February 2011. A follow-up was conducted subsequently. Results: ABR evaluations were performed on 65 infants, and 31 showed abnormal results (47.7%). Among the 31 infants, 10 were classified with moderate/severe/profound hearing loss (15.4%). The infants with abnormal ABR had a higher incidence of low birth weight, prolonged ventilator care, cumulative dose of furosemide, and the lowest $PaO_2$ (P<0.05). Those with moderate/severe/profound hearing loss had a higher incidence of low Apgar scores at 5 minutes (odds ratio[OR],0.34; 95% confidence interval[CI],0.13-0.89), prolonged ventilator care (OR,1.06; 95% CI,1.01-1.12), and mild hearing loss compared to those without profound hearing loss. Follow-up evaluations on eight infants with ABR reveled improvements 5.6${\pm}$3.9 months later. One infant, who had profound hearing loss in both ears, used a hearing aid. Conclusion: Factors influencing hearing loss at the first VLBWI hearing screening test included lower Apgar scores at 5 min and prolonged use of a ventilator. Most VLBWI with hearing losses were expected to recover after several months of follow-up.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Disaster Information Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.249-252
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• 2016

본 연구에서는 연령증가에 따라 운전에 필요한 신체적, 인지적 능력의 변화가 어떻게 나타나는지 설문을 통해 분석하고, 이것이 교통안전 시설물(신호기, 노면표시, 도로표지판)의 필요성 및 적정성을 평가하는 것과 어떤 관계가 있는 지 살펴보고자 하였다. 이를 위해 20세 이상 운전면허 소지자를 대상으로 5개 권역, 500명을 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하여 이를 분석하였다. 운전능력에 대한 자기평가 점수는 종합적 능력, 개별능력(시력, 청력, 색채식별 등) 모두 연령이 증가함에 따라 점수가 낮아지는 것으로 분석되었다. 특히 시력은 연령증가에 따른 감소폭이 크고, 절대적인 평균점수가 다른 항목에 비하여 낮게 나타났다. 시력의 경우 타 신체적, 인지적 능력에 비해 운전 중 기능의 저하에 따른 체감도가 크기 때문인 것으로 판단된다. 설문결과에 따른 분류분석을 통해서는 신체적, 인지적 기능의 저하가 시작되는 연령이 기존의 고령운전자로 판단하는 65세 보다 낮은 48세로 분석되었다. 이것은 연령증가에 따른 기능 저하로 인한 영향을 받는 운전자가 그렇지 않은 운전자보다 더 많다는 것을 의미한다. 또한 시설물에 대한 필요성 인식에 대한 평가 역시 운전능력에서 차이를 나타내는 연령대에서 인식의 차이가 있을 것으로 분석되었다.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.201-212
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• 2021

The present study was conducted as a pilot investigation to suggest the standards of acoustic performance for classrooms suitable for incomplete hearing people such as children under 9 years of age. Subjective evaluations such as questionnaire and speech intelligibility test were conducted to 264 students at two elementary schools in Cheong-ju in order to analyze the characteristics of the listening environment in the classrooms of the lower grades in elementary school. The survey was undertaken with a total of 264 students at two elementary schools in Cheong-ju, and investigated their satisfaction with the classroom listening environment. As a result, students responded that the most helpful information type for understanding class content is the voice of teacher. In addition, the volume of the current teacher's voice is normal, and the level of clarity is highly satisfactory. As for the acoustic performance of the classroom, the opinion that the noise was normal and the reverberation was very short was found to be dominant in overall satisfaction with the listening environment. Meanwhile, as a result of speech intelligibility test using the word list selected for the lower grade students of elementary school, it could be inferred that the longitudinal axis distance from the sound source in the case of 8-year-olds is a factor that affects speech recognition.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.729-746
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• 2020

For the development and better use of information and communication technology(ICT) for promoting health and quality of life in older people, it is important to understand personal factors associated with ICT use. The aims of this study were to describe the pattern of ICT use according to health characteristics of elderly and to investigate significant factors related to ICT use among three age groups. The data of 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans was used for analysis and 10,058 of older adults aged 65 and over were included for study participants. As results, first, the young old(65~74) used more functions of ICT than the middle-old(75~84) and the old-old(85 and over). Second, ICT was more used among older people with good conditions in chronic disease, subjective health, cognition, depression, vision, hearing, walking and IADL. Third, higher prevalence of ICT use was significantly associated with age, education, household income, subjective health, depression, cognitive function, vision limitation and walking limitation. Fourth, factors influencing the use of ICT were a little different among three age groups. For the young-old(65~74), subjective health, depression, cognitive decline, walking limitation, and IADL disability were significant factors affecting on ICT use. For the middle-old(75-84), subjective health, depression, cognitive decline, vision, hearing, and walking limitation were related with their ICT use. For the old-old(85 and over), only cognitive function and depression were associated with their ICT use. Based on these results, this study suggested the need to consider multiple health conditions for developing and using ICT for older adults.