Development of a Novel Wireless In-Ear Noise Exposure Monitor for the Prevention of Occupational Hearing Loss

Details

• Personal Author:
  Parkins JW
• Description:
  According to the CDC, four million workers go to work each day in damaging noise, while ten million in the U.S. suffer from noise-related hearing loss. Hearing loss accounted for at least 14% of occupational illness in 2007, and approximately $242M is spent annually on worker's compensation for hearing loss disability. To address this problem, employers are required by law to implement hearing conservation programs for employees at risk. Potential risk is determined by measuring cumulative noise exposure using personal noise dosimeters (PNDs). These instruments are typically worn on-the-shoulder as a surrogate position for center-of-head measurements. The in-ear PND (iPNDTM) is a relatively new dosimeter that has significant advantages over traditional systems because iPNDsTM measure noise in the ear canal using a microphone located interior to any hearing protection. Traditionally, the protected exposure level is estimated by subtracting the noise reduction rating (NRR) of the hearing protection device (HPD) from the on-the-shoulder exposure level which can be an inaccurate estimate. This problem is well documented and contributes to noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) because the employee may be subjected to higher exposure levels than estimated. The iPNDTM avoids this shortcoming by directly measuring protected exposure when the user is wearing an HPD. Although these dosimeters provide superior performance and function, only two, are commercially available today. Their lack of popularity is primarily due to wires that connect the earplugs to a dosimetry processor, creating a nuisance and potential snag hazard. A wireless iPNDTM (wiPNDTM) that would solve the aforementioned problems is being investigated. A relatively new wireless technology, radio frequency identification (RFID) can be used to transmit noise level data from a wiPNDTM earplug to a remote processor. Novel new features are provided with our wiPND system that will help prevent NIHL and improve acceptance of PNDs. The aim of the RTHwiPND system is the prevention of occupational noise induced hearing loss through noise dose monitoring using novel designs, inventions and concepts. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Noise Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Monitoring Systems Noise Exposure Noise Measurement Occupational Hearing Loss Wearable Technologies
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052647
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R43-OH-011145, 2017 Nov; :1-10
• Contact Point Address:
  John W. Parkins, Ph.D., President and PI, 1111 Locust St., Unit 8i, Philadelphia, PA 149107
• Email:
  JParkins@RTHcorp.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  Red Tail Hawk Corporation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20160901
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20170831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b3de7933f30ec651e6f29f5358480a90023f50c4930112308e774ccfac288b350f3907e084859ea5517a7e5c2f483dd7f9d39268741ad95f48f9b4f854a38d95
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/218715/cdc_218715_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.62 MB ]