Tags: headphones, headsets, hearing impairments, Karolinska Institutet, psychosocial factors, Statistics Sweden, stress, The Centre for Hearing- and Communication Research
Listening to music at high volume in headphones and use of headsets in noisy environments could be the reason to increase of hearing impairments among youngsters. Stress and psychosocial factors is another.
According to figures published by Statistics Sweden and the Swedish Association of Hard of Hearing People, the proportion of hearing impaired people has increased by more than 14% between 1985 and 2005 and there is a trend that this figure is increasing. Another finding is that we normally connect hard of hearing with older people but today the greatest increase is among people below 30 years old. In order to get more knowledge on what causes this increase The Centre for Hearing- and Communication Research at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm has received 5 million Swedish crowns yearly for 10 years from Swedish council for working life and social research, http://www.fas.se/default____206.aspx.
Eight senior researchers will build three research themes:
1. Epidemiologic studies in order to find risk factor with connection to genetic conditions.
2. The connection between the body’s biological processes and how hearing damages arise.
3. Psychosocial factors.
TCO Development participates in the reference group and will be able to transfer research results to the manufacturing industry through our requirements and test methods in the TCO certification for headsets.
You find more information about the Center for Hearing and Communication Research at http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=15453&a=42598&l=en
Posted by Annika Overodder
Tags: cardiovascular effects, furnish walls, hearing fatigue, hormonal responses, immune system, noice levels, noice pollution, open office landscapes, performance at work, sleep disturbance, sound absorbing screens, tinnitus, WHO
Noise pollution is an ever-increasing problem in modern technological society.
It is well documented that repeated exposure to even moderate levels of noise can be dangerous for your health, but we often underestimate the more pervasive physiological and psychological effects. The World Health Organization has identified these main health risks that noise in the workplace can cause:
• pain and hearing fatigue;
• hearing impairment including tinnitus;
• annoyance;
• interference with social behavior (aggressiveness, protest and helplessness);
• interference with speech communication;
• sleep disturbance and all its consequences on a long and short term basis;
• cardiovascular effects;
• hormonal responses (stress hormones) and their possible consequences on human metabolism (nutrition) and immune system;
• performance at work and school.
In your workplace, think of these common sources of ambient noise: continuous hum from a ventilation system or a computer or intermittent noise from office equipment. Open office landscapes can also add to the noise level as phone conversations and general discussions are more audible throughout the office.
Some advice for creating an office environment with an acceptable noise level:
• Keep noise down to healthy sound levels in a 45 to 60 dB(A) range that neither affects the ability to concentrate without being distracted nor the ability to hear the spoken word (well below the range for possible hearing damage).
• Locate co-workers according to the organizational structure, work task and project membership.
• Allocate separate rooms for meetings, phone calls and quiet tasks.
• Furnish walls, ceilings, and other large surfaces with sound absorptive materials.
• Separate workplaces with sound absorbing screens.
TCO Development has a co-operation with Ecophon on solutions for sound in offices. For more information http://www.ecophon.com/ .
Posted by Annika Overodder
