• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.103-106
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• 2013

During a military service, noise has unusual characteristics, and constitutes a serious hazard to hearing of military servicemen. The purpose of this study is to understand the use of hearing protection and to assess the safety effects of hearing protection by using a ear plug in military. A total of 208(the army : 101, an air force : 107) serviceman were studied utilizing a questionnaire to know how many serviceman use the hearing protection and a total of 202(the army : 110, an air force : 92) serviceman were also studied using a ear fit validation device to assess the safety effects of hearing protection by using a ear plug. The results showed that the army have low used of hearing protection than an air force because of the low frequency of the noise exposure in the army. Personal attenuation rate was increased with 8 dB after fitting education. Therefore, it is recommended that use of proper hearing protection and fitting education was more suitable for military servicemen who were being exposed of the noise in domestic military.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.376-383
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• 2006

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHS), the well-known occupational disease, is caused by continuous excessive noise. The prevention of NIHS is very important, because it is unrecoverable. There are some kinds of hearing protection device (HPD), and those are effective in preventing NIHS. But workers in noisy environment often resist to wearing them. Because they are ready - made products, so workers feel uncomfortable to wear. Also, they didn't maintain the conversation frequency range, so workers are hard to communicate in wearing them. To prevent hearing loss effectively, it is important that workers keep wearing HPD. Therefore, a HPD is needed to be comfortable to wear and be effective not only in hearing protection but also in preserving communication ability. So we proposed a custom - made hearing protection device in which a small acoustic filter is inserted. We designed several kinds of small acoustic filters and carried out some acoustic experiments for measuring characteristics of filters. We confirmed that acoustic transmission characteristic can be adjusted from experimental results using designed small acoustic filters. And we researched for the actual efficiency of a new developed custom - made hearing protection device using a small size acoustic filter. Also, we found out that workers are more satisfied with the new development than a former protection device from a workers' response.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2016

The popularity of personal listening devices(PLDs) has increased over past years, especially, in adolescents. Overuses and missuses of PLDs could be the cause of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The purposes of this study were (1) to survey middle school students' habits using PLDs, knowledge of hearing loss and attitude of hearing protection and (2) to develope a questionnaire for assessment of habits using PLDs, knowledge of hearing loss and attitude of hearing protection in adolescents. The 41-item questionnaire was designed and used to survey middle school students' habits using PLDs, knowledge of hearing loss and attitude of hearing protection. A total of 404 middle school students aged 14-15 years participated in the survey. Most of the students were found to use PLDs soundly. However, 30 % of students used PLDs for more than 3 hours a day. Also, almost all of the students did not understand knowledge of the causes of hearing loss, but showed interests in hearing protection. However, some students had insufficient understanding of the causes of hearing loss and the needs of hearing protection. The results suggest that the development of programs for adolescents' hearing health is needed.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.200-208
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• 2007

The noise induced hearing loss, which is one type of the hearing losses, is well known occupational diseases. The prevention of the noise induced hearing loss is very important, because it is unrecoverable. There are some kinds of devices for hearing protection, and those are effective in preventing the noise induced hearing loss. However, people often resist the use of hearing protection devices because they have some difficulties during conversation in wearing the devices. To solve the problem, a small acoustic filter can be used for a hearing protection device. In this paper, we designed several kinds of small acoustic filters and analyzed the characteristics of designed small acoustic filters using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). From FEA results, we proved the characteristics of designed small acoustic filters which vary according to length and diameter. And we found out that the general tendencies of modeled filters using FEA are same as acoustic experiment results of designed filters.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-35
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• 1995

Nowadays aviation noise significantly affects a number of people over the world. This paper is mainly focused on the effect of temporary and permanent hearing loss of cockpit crew, flight attendants, passengers, persons in communities exposed to aircraft overflight. Also this paper describes the human hearing mechanism and the processes of temporary and permanent hearing loss. The results of research are presented and the potential for hearing loss in aviation noise environments evaluated. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hearing protection criteria are also addressed.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.479-487
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• 2004

The prevention of noise induced hearing loss is very important, because there is no treatment for it. There are some kinds of devices for hearing protection, and those are effective in preventing a noise induced hearing loss. However, people often resist the use of hearing protection devices because it is difficult to have a conversation. Therefore, a hearing protection device is must effective not only in hearing protection but also in preserving communication ability. In this paper, we proposed a small acoustic filter for ITE type noise protector to solving the problem about the difficulties of conversation. That is applied a principle of acoustic filters that have been used for a muffler of automobiles, guns, and etc. To find out the sound transmission characteristic at the eardrum, we regarded an acoustic filter and external ear canal as a coupled system. So, we simulated the coupled system with OrCad, and experimented with a designed acoustic filter and a 2 cc coupler which has the same transmission characteristic as the external ear canal has. We confirmed that it is possible to adjustment acoustic transmission characteristics through simulation of electrical model for acoustic filter and external ear and experiments using designed small acoustic filters.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2015

Although noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant public health problem, many people might not be aware that exposure to loud noise could occur hearing loss. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and analyze how importantly and seriously people are aware of NIHL using a 22-question survey. It was administered to random 150 people including between 20 s to 60 s. The questionnaire contained questions about i) views toward general health issues including hearing loss and tinnitus, ii) noise exposure, and iii) views toward hearing protection. Results showed that hearing loss was defined on a likert scale as 'a very big problem' by 17.33 % of respondents compared with other health issues. Surprisingly, most respondents (82 %) had not heard, read, or seen anything lately related to the issue of hearing loss. Many respondents had experience hearing problem or tinnitus under loud noise situations (85 %), however, only 11.33 % of respondents had used earplugs. Fortunately, many could be motivated to try ear protection if they were advised by a medical professional (80 %) or were aware of the potential for permeant hearing loss (78.67 %). We concluded that awareness of the potential for permanent hearing loss with noise and effective methods of hearing protection should be announced to public for preventing NIHL.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.18 no.33
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• pp.135-141
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• 1995

Hearing protection devices (HPDs) are currently the most common countermeasure against occupational noise-induced hearing loss. Use of HPD is only effective when they are properly Worn. However, industrial workers often do not very them, posing a serious under protection. This paper analyzes several motivational strategies which might be applied improve HPD use in the field. It was concluded that such methods could readily be implemented in the workplace to protect workers exposed to hazardous industrial noises.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.69-74
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• 2012

This paper shows the results about field operating digital hearing aids which protect the ears of the battle field soldiers from explosive sound and minimize the difficulty of mutual communication during the battle. The essence of the hearing aid is in its signal compression technology in which soft sound is amplified while rapidly increased explosive sound is attenuated. This nonlinear compression technology can be applied for the protection of the ears of the battle field soldiers. As a core part of the hearing aid, when a new DSP IC chip is launched, the modified firmware and fitting software is developed for adaption. Ezairo 5910 which was recently launched by DSP factory in Canada was used for the development of the firmware of the hearing aid.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.97-103
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• 1999

As the noise of ship engine room is too loud, the engineer who works in a ship engine-room has the trouble of hearing. In this paper deals the investigation of the noise of ship engine room and cabins with the internationally allowable noise exposure level and noise exposure time. Recently, the problem of engine-room noise is more serious because of shipowner wants to make small number and larger size of cylinder. Therefore, engineers work in a ship engine-room for a long time have the trouble of hearing when they are exposed the high noise level. In this study, two kinds of vessels were used to investigate the noise of engine room, engine-control room, bridge, offices and cabins. As criteria of sound levels, A-weighted sound pressure level and octave band pressure level were used.