• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1996년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.240-242
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• 1996

In this paper, we proposed a method of a hearing aid suitable for the sensorineural hearing impaired. Generally as the sensorineural hearing impaired have narrow audible ranges between threshold and discomfortable level, the speech spectrum may easily go beyond their audible range. Therefore speech spectrum must be optimally amplified and compressed into the impaired's audible range. The level and frequency of input speech signal are varied continuously. So we have to make compensation input signal for frequency-gain loss of the impaired, specially in the frequency band which includes much information. The input sigaal is divided into short time block and spectrum within the block is calculated. The frequency-gain characteristic is determined using the calculated spectrum. The number of frequency band and the target gain which will be added input signal are estimated. The input signal within the block is processed by a single digital filter with the calculated frequency-gain characteristics. From the results of monosyllabic speech tests to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, the scores of test were improved.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.336-341
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• 2010

One mechanism of inner ear damage by noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because Korean red ginseng (KRG) has an anti-ROS effect in various tissues, KRG may have a role in preventing NIHL. A window period exists in which ROS formations continue after noise exposure, and further damage can be prevented by antioxidants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of KRG after exposure to noise. KRG (200 mg/kg) was fed to mice for 3 days after noise exposure. The change in hearing level was analyzed by measuring the auditory brainstem response. To induce a temporary threshold shift (TTS) of hearing, mice were exposed to 110 dB white noise for 3 hours. Fast recovery of hearing was observed in mice fed KRG 1 hour and 1 day after noise exposure for 3 days. The expression of 8-oxoguanine was not observed in the inner ears of mice fed KRG 1 hour after noise exposure, but was evident in the stria vascularis of mice in the control group (noise exposure only). From this study, we conclude that KRG acted as an effective inhibitor of NIHL in TTS cases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.30-39
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• 1999

이 연구는 특수건강진단기관의 소음성 난청 진단결과의 유소견자$(D_1)$와 요관찰자(C)를 하나의 평가 지표로 설정하여, 첫째 소음 특수건강진단 결과 소음성 난청의 실태 파악, 둘째 소음성 난청 요관찰 자의 청력장애 평가, 셋째 정력장애 정도 에 따른 각 주파수 영역별 기도순음청력 검사 결과를 통해 청력손실의 정도를 파악하고 이의 판정기준에 따른 진단의 적정성을 검토하고자 하였다. 1. 1994년 l월부터 12월까지의 73개 특수건강진단기관의 특수건강진단 실시 사업장은 27,347개이며 이중 소음 특수 건강진단 설시 사업장은 16,388개(59.9%)이었으며, 전체 특수건강진단 수진 근로자는 731,029명이며 이중 소음 특수 건강진단 수진 근로자는 343,457명 (47.0%)이었다. 소음성 난청 요관찰자는 38,058명, 소음성 난청 유소견자는 1,358 명으로 소음성 난청 요관찰률은 11.1%, 유소견율은 0.44%이었다. 지역에 따라 소음성 난청 요관찰률의 차이를 보여주며 판정기준의 적용에 따른 기도순음 청력평균손실치가 일부 적정하게 판단되지 못하였음을 보여 주었다. 2. ISO 기준의 3분법에 의한 청력 평가시 97%가 경도난청 이하였으며, 회화음 역에서의 4분법에 비해 거의 비슷하였으나 약간 정상역이 많았고, 고음역을 포함하여 평가하는 4분법과 6분법의 적용시 정상자의 경도난청으로의 가능성이 높다고 볼 수 있어 청력평가시 평가방법의 적용에 따라 내재적인 판별능의 차이를 보여준다고 볼 수 있다. 3. 우측귀의 청력역치를 ISO 기준에 의해 평가한 후 양귀의 청력역치의 분포 및 차이를 보면, 우측귀의 평균역치(표준편차)가 20.54(9.56) dB, 좌측귀의 평균역치가 20.54(9.57) dB로 좌측귀의 평균역치가 우측보다 높았다. 양귀의 청력이 75.4%에서 정상역이었으며, 21,562명 (90.6%)의 양귀 청력역치 차이의 범위가 10dB이내였다. 4. 소음성 난청 요관찰자의 회화음역에 속하는 500, 1,000 및 2,000 Hz에서의 기도청력역치를 산술평균으로 하여 구하는 3분법의 청력손실도(표준편차)를 주파수 별로 보면, 우측귀에서 500 Hz 21.08(10.23), 1,000 Hz 18.44(10.01), 2,000 Hz 22.09(13.46), 4,000 Hz 52.36(16.38) dB이었다. 평균청력손실도를 10 dB 간격으로 구분한 후 각각의 주파수별 청력역치를 살펴보면, 정상역인 20 dB미만에서 고음역인 4,000 Hz에서 회화음역인 500, 1,000 및 2,000 Hz에서 보다 평균 30-40 dB 이상의 역치를 보이는 $C_5-dip$ 현상을 특징적으로 보였다. 평균정력손질이 증가함에 따라 4,000 Hz에서의 역치 증가 현상이 점차적으로 감소하다 평균청력손실이 50 dB 이상에서는 10dB 내외의 차이만을 나타내었다. 이상과 같이 소음성 난청 요관찰자에 대한 분석에서 소음성 난청의 평가방법 에 따른 실태와 의미, 소음에 의한 조기청력손실의 특정과 소음성 난청의 판정기준에 따른 진단의 적정성을 확인할 수 있었으며, 소음성 난청 요관찰자에 대한 관리의 필요성을 제언할 수 있겠다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.286-298
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• 1994

For the purpose of presenting the basic data for the establishment of control measures on the long-term noise exposed workers, this study was carried out on the relationship between personal noise exposed dose and hearing loss on the 67 male workers whose hearing threshold had exceeded 40 dB in 4,000 Hz, from 1990 to 1992. Conclusively, the level of hearing loss was significantly related to personal noise exposed dose in follow-up period. We considered that personal noise exposed dose which was measured by the personal noise dosemeter was more efficient rather than the noise level of workplace for the evaluating the long-term change of hearing acuity. And although in the case of not-diagnosed as noise induced hearing loss. it was suspected that the active control programs such as improvement of noisy environment or early transfer to proper workplace were needed on the workers who exposed with over 90 dB in personal noise exposed dose.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.141-147
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• 2019

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical association between cadmium exposure and hearing impairment among the Korean population. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study used the data obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for our study. Finally, 3,228 participants were included in our study, which were then divided into quartiles based on their blood cadmium levels: first quartile (1Q), second quartile (2Q), third quartile (3Q), and fourth quartile (4Q) groups. The hearing thresholds were measured using an automatic audiometer at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz. Hearing loss (HL) was defined as >25 dB average hearing threshold (AHT). Results: All the groups had 807 participants each. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of cadmium level for HL were 0.634 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.621-0.646). The participants in the 4Q group had higher Low/Mid-Freq, High-Freq, and AHT values than those in the other groups in the multivariate analysis after adjusting for confounding factors. The logistic regression showed that the OR for HL per $1{\mu}g/L$ increase in cadmium was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.09-1.44; p=0.002) on the multivariate analysis. Moreover, the multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the participants in the 4Q group exhibited a 1.59-, 1.38-, and 1.41-fold higher odds for HL than those in the 1Q, 2Q, and 3Q groups, respectively. Conclusion: High cadmium level quartile was associated with increased hearing thresholds and HL among the Korean adult population.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.385-394
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• 2010

Automatic gain control(AGC) is used in hearing aids to compensate for the hearing level as to reduced dynamic range. AGC is consisted of the main 4 factors which are compression threshold, compression ratio, attack time, and release time. This study especially focus on each individual need for optimum release time parameters that can be changed within 7 certain range such as 12, 64, 128, 512, 2094, and 4096ms. To estimate the effect of various release time in AGC, twelve normal hearing and twelve hearing impaired listeners are participated. The stimuli are used by one syllable and sentence which have the same acoustic energy respectively. Then, each of score of the word recognition score is checked in quiet and noise conditions. As a result, it is verified that most people have the different best recognition score on specific release time. Also, if hearing aids is set by the optimum release time in each person, it is helpful in speech recognition and discrimination.

• 음성과학
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.181-187
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• 2003

This paper introduces a new zinc coated copper wire electrode with coiled cone shape which has low surface resistance and tolerance to the motion artifact for promontory stimulation electrically auditory brainstem responses (PSEABR). Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) can be used to predict hearing threshold level with a great deal of accuracy particularly for a young child who cannot cooperate mechanically and some hearing impaired who are exaggerating a hearing loss for economic compensation. While severe profound sensorineural hearing losses may not be implemented by auditory potentials, PSEABR is proven as a useful tool even for some sensorineural related hearing impaired. It was shown that PSEABR gives the electrical stimuli to promontory of the cochlear instead of giving acoustic stimuli. For this reason, PSEABR can be used as an alternative for cochlear implantation, and can also be used as an optimal device selection and neural information for MAP. It was found that the role of electrode is very important in PSEABR. Even though this cone-shaped electrode was applied in animal experiments, waveforms are well produced by PSEABR. Thus, it was concluded that cone-shaped electrode turned out to be a useful preoperative audiological evaluation tool in deciding time for cochlear implantation surgery.

• 사상체질의학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.23-31
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• 2021

Objective The case report showed that sudden hearing loss and tinnitus after trigeminal schwannoma surgery were improved with Yeoldahansotang-gamibang. Method The patient was diagnosed with Taeeumin interior heat (Ganyeol) disease based on the original symptoms of Taeeumin. He was treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment. Puretone audiometry (PTA), speech audiometry, tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and the original symptoms were investigated before and after the treatment. Results Right side PTA score was significantly reduced, speech audiometry was improved in speech reception threshold (SRT), word recognition score (WRS) and most comfortable level (MCL) and THI score decreased from 40 to 0, which showed normalizing hearing function. And the patient revealed improvements in sleeping, digestion, stooling, perspiration and facial sensation after treatment. Conclusion This study suggests that Yeoldahansotang-gamibang is effective on sudden hearing loss and tinnitus after surgery by correcting the imbalanced energy of Taeeumin.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.356-368
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• 1997

In effort to determine whether aircraft noise can have health effects such as hearing loss, hypertension and psychological stress, a total of 111 male professors and administrative officers working a college near a military airport in Korea(exposed group) and a total of 168 males and 112 females matched by age groups(control groups) were analyzed. Personal noise exposure and indoor and outdoor sound level of jet aircraft noise were measured at the exposed are3. And pure tone, air conduction test and measurement of blood pressure were given to the exposed(males) and matched control groups (males and females). BEPSI(Brief Encounter Psychological Instrument) and psychological response to aircraft noise were examined for the exposed group. The noise dosimetry results revealed time-weighted averages(TWAs) that ranged from 61 to 68 dBA. However the levels encountered during taking off jet airplanes reached 126 dBA for two half minutes time period. Th, audiometric, test showed that mean values of HTL(hearing threshold level) in exposed group at every frequency(500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 Hz were much lower than them of male and female control groups. And in old age groups, interaction of age and noise was observed at 8,000 Hz in both ears(p<0.05). Conclusively, aircraft noise does not appear to induce hearing loss directly in high frequency, but may decreased hearing threshold level by interaction of aging process and noise exposure. However, difference of mean values of exposed and control groups on blood pressure was not significantly. In psychological test, annoyance was the most severe psychological response to noise in exposed group, but mean value of BEPSI was not correlated with job duration in exposed group.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.267-272
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• 2012

치과의사는 감염, 알레르기, 시력장애 등 다양한 직업적 위험에 노출되어 있으며, 그 중에서도 비교적 최근 들어 새롭게 제기된 문제가 청력손상이다. 치과 진료실에서 발생하는 소음이 작업장 소음 기준을 초과한다는 조사 결과가 발표된 바 있고, 특히 소아치과 의사는 각종 치과 소음에 더하여 어린이의 울음소리라는 부가적 소음원에도 일상적으로 노출되고 있다. 본 연구는 소아치과 의사에게 영향을 미칠 수 있는 소음 환경에 대해 조사하고, 이에 따른 청력 손상 가능성을 고찰해 볼 목적으로 시행되었다. 휴대용 소음계를 이용하여, 각종 치과용 기구, 어린이의 울음소리, 양자가 동시에 발생할 때의 소음 크기를 각각 측정하고, 소아치과 의사가 소음 환경에 노출되는 시간을 설문을 통해 조사하였다. 이 결과를 National Institute for Safety and Health(NIOSH) 및 Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)의 소음 역치 기준, CRA News letter의 청력 손상을 유발하는 소음 기준과 각각 비교하였다. 그 결과, 소아치과 의사가 노출된 소음 환경은, 강도와 노출 시간을 고려했을 때 허용된 작업장 소음 기준을 초과하며, 어린이의 울음소리는 한 번의 노출로도 영구적 청력 손상을 야기할 수 있는 수준으로 나타났다. 따라서 일반 치과의사와 비교하여 소아치과 의사는 직업적 청력 손상의 위험성이 더 높으며, 이를 최소화하기 위한 적극적인 대책이 필요하다는 결론을 내릴 수 있었다.