Work

The effect of brief subway station noise exposure on commuter hearing

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that brief exposure to subway noise causes temporary threshold shift and is preventable with noise protection. METHODS: The study was conducted as a randomized crossover trial. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to two groups, one with hearing protection and one without. Subjects were exposed to subway platform noise for 15 minutes. Pre- and post-exposure pure tone audiometry (PTA) and otoacoustic emissions were compared. After a washout period, subjects switched hearing protection groups and repeated the process. RESULTS: < .001). For exposure without hearing protection, the mean threshold was 5.19 dB pre-exposure and 3.91 dB post-exposure (decrease of 1.28 dB; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.74). For exposure with hearing protection, the mean threshold was 4.81 dB pre-exposure and 3.47 dB post-exposure (decrease of 1.34 dB; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-1.79). CONCLUSION: Brief exposure to subway noise did not cause hearing loss with or without noise protection. Though clinically insignificant, the unexpected finding of reduction in PTA suggests that there are complex heterogeneous short- and long-term cochlear responses to noise exposure that should be further explored. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b.

Source: Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

DOI: 10.1002/lio2.216

Authors: Ravi R. Shah, Jonathan J. Suen, Ilana P. Cellum, Jaclyn B. Spitzer, Anil K. Lalwani

Institutions: University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics

Subfield: Sensory Systems

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,900