What affects a person's hearing? Hearing loss and what affects our hearing
Among the so-called ototoxic medications are:
Aminoglycoside antibiotics– streptomycin, monomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, amikacin, tobramycin, etc.;
Antibiotics from the macrolide group– erythromycin, azithromycin, etc.;
Loop diuretics- furosemide, etc.;
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs– indomethacin, etc.
The first place is occupied by aminoglycoside antibiotics(streptomycin, neomycin, kanamycin, monomycin, new generation aminoglycosides - gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin). The ototoxic effect is especially pronounced in drugs of the aminoglycoside series, both during general therapy and during local application as part of complex drugs such as Sofradex and Anauran, which are produced as ear drops, are intended for use in otitis media, and they contain monomycin. Despite prevention, hearing damage caused by ototoxic antibiotics accounts for about 50% of acquired hearing loss in childhood. According to foreign authors, when using aminoglycosides, hearing loss is observed in 2-12% of cases, and deafness in 0.5%.
Aminoglycosides, along with such side effects characteristic of all antibiotics, as allergic reactions (itching, urticaria, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock), have neurotoxicity, causing damage to the organ of hearing and vestibular apparatus, as well as nephrotoxicity, in which the excretory function of the kidneys is impaired, which enhances the ototoxic effect. The optic nerve is exposed to neurotoxic effects, and polyneuritis, paresthesia, and headache may develop. Ototoxicity increases with repeated courses of treatment with aminoglycosides due to increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, as well as against the background of otitis media, acute trauma, and immunological deficiency. The use of a combination of two aminoglycoside antibiotics causes severe, irreversible damage. Sensitivity to aminoglycosides depends on age: children and the elderly are most sensitive. Severe ototoxic damage develops in the fetus in utero when aminoglycosides are used during pregnancy.
An attempt to limit the indications for prescribing aminoglycosides only for tuberculosis turned out to be untenable. Despite ototoxicity, the scope of use of aminoglycosides continues to expand, which is due to the high pharmacological activity of these antibiotics, a wide range of bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects on highly virulent pathogens (both gram-positive and gram-negative), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is insensitive to antibiotics of other groups, and persistent staphylococcal flora. Streptomycin is used as the main antituberculosis drug for the treatment of newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous lesions of other organs. Streptomycin-chlorine-calcium complex is used for health reasons for tuberculous meningitis.
Attempts have been made to experimentally determine the sites of impact and the depth of damage in the inner ear,
to develop an optimal dosage of the drug, to create an experimental model to search for drugs that antagonistize the ototoxic effects of aminoglycosides. It was found that the structures of the inner ear were mainly affected sequentially: first, the stria vascularis; antibiotics then accumulate in the fluids of the inner ear; permeability increases; the ultrastructural elements of the receptor cells of the spiral organ suffer.
Thus, clinical observations and experimental studies in most cases of use of aminoglycosides reveal ototoxic damage to the hearing organ. On the other hand, the wide spectrum of action of aminoglycosides and their pharmacological activity against many pathogens of severe purulent-inflammatory diseases resistant to other antibiotics force the use of aminoglycosides not only for tuberculosis. The solution to the problem of use for extended but vitally important indications is to find and create such agents that can prevent or significantly weaken or make ototoxic damage unstable.
The use of such agents as neuropeptides, which have an activating effect on regeneration nerve tissue peripheral and central parts of the nervous system; indomethacin, atropine sulfate, nifedipine; galantamine is an anticholinesterase drug that penetrates the blood-brain barrier and promotes the conduction of impulses in the peripheral part of the auditory analyzer. A drug, chondroitin-4, has been proposed to help preserve bioelectrical activity. Good effect observed with the use of pimadine and amidorin as aminoglycoside antagonists.
Measures to prevent the ototoxic effects of aminoglycosides:
Limit indications for the use of aminoglycosides to essential ones. Particularly strict restrictions must be observed in pregnant women and young children.
Start the administration of aminoglycoside with a small dose - no more than half - in the first 1-2 days.
Never combine the administration of two aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Conduct a daily detailed survey of the patient about the appearance of tinnitus and dizziness. Daily hearing testing with whispered speech (determination of cortical impairment) and pure-tone audiometry in an extended frequency range (impairment beyond social-speech hearing). Discontinue the aminoglycoside at the first complaint of tinnitus.
Monitor the excretory function of the kidneys.
Examine the level of vision.
Antibiotics of the macrolide group:
Azithromycin: Azitrox, Azivok, Azitral, Azithromycin -AKOS, ZI-Factor, Zitrolide, Sumamed, Hemomycin, Sumametcin, Zithrocin
Clarithromycin: Klacid SR, Klacid, Claromin, Clerimed, Fromilid, Klabaks, Klarbakt
Clarithromycin + Omeprazole + Tinidazole: Pilobact
Erythromycin: Erythromycin Phosphate, Erythromycin
Zhosamicin: Vilprafen
Midecamycin: Macropen
Roxithromycin: Roxihexal, Roxeptin, Roxide, Roxithromycin LEK, Roxolit, Roxilor, Rulid, Elrox
Spiramycin: Rovamycin
Another group of drugs that have ototoxic side effects are loop diuretics (ethacrynic acid derivatives, Lasix, furosemide) - furosemide, ethacrynic acid, bumetanide, according to clinical data, reduce the acuity of sound perception. Their damaging effects on the morphological structures of the inner ear (edema of the stria vascularis) have been experimentally established; an imbalance of sodium, potassium, and chlorine occurs, which, against the background of a decrease in calcium content, can lead to a decrease in the excitability of the cochlea. It should be noted that the ototoxic effect increases with the simultaneous administration of antibiotics and diuretics that give this by-effect. For this reason it is not recommended:
Prescribe 2 ototoxic antibiotics simultaneously;
Use simultaneously an antibiotic and a diuretic drug that has an ototoxic effect;
Use ototoxic drugs in the treatment of patients with a history of skull trauma or kidney disease.
Arsenic drugs (osarsol, stovarsol, etc.) also have an ototoxic effect and should be prescribed exclusively for vital indications.
Particular attention should be paid to quinine, which has a pronounced ototoxic effect. This drug is still used in the treatment of malaria, but in addition it is used to stimulate labor and, during prolonged labor, can cause damage to the auditory analyzer in both the mother and the fetus and lead to the birth of a child with hearing loss or deafness. In addition, combination drugs are produced that contain quinine (for example, analgin-quinine).
To ototoxic medicines also include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal drugs. Among non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, salicylates are the most ototoxic - acetylsalicylic acid and sodium salicylate. Slight damage to the outer hair cells of the cochlea in guinea pigs, accumulation of salicylates in the stria vascularis, inhibition of cochlear transaminases, and a decrease in prostaglandin synthesis were revealed. The first symptoms of poisoning are noise in the ear and vestibular vertigo. Hearing loss is also possible, closely correlating with the level of salicylate in the blood. If these symptoms appear in patients receiving large doses of salicylate for a long time, the drug should be discontinued or its dose reduced. Vestibular disorders and hearing loss disappear 2-3 days after discontinuation.
While the life of any person is filled with sounds, pleasant and not very pleasant, important or unnecessary, his world is full and “colored” in different tones and shades. A person hears and understands speech, and this is precisely the basis for his interaction with other people.
A person hears music and the sound of the wind, dialogues in a play and the sound of rain on the roof; at these moments he is one with art and nature. A person hears the noise of an engine or the roar of a waterfall and is warned of danger. The man hears! However, people tend not to value what they got just like that, by nature, by birth. Many people do not even immediately notice the losses in their life - endurance, resistance to stress, visual acuity, hearing. The world just became less bright or quieter for him. How not to lose and how to improve your hearing – we’ll look at it in this article.
The ear performs two tasks; with its help, a person hears and maintains balance. It consists of three departments, each of which performs its own functions:
- The outer ear concentrates and directs sound . Consists of the auricle and external auditory canal, 2.5–3 cm long in adults. It ends at the eardrum.
- The middle ear performs a sound-conducting function . It is located behind the eardrum - this is a tympanic cavity with air (1 cm 3) and a chain of three tiny bones - the malleus, incus and stirrup, which transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The anterior wall of the tympanic cavity in the lower part passes into the Eustachian (auditory) tube, connected to the nasopharynx. In a healthy person, it is in a collapsed state and opens when swallowing and yawning. Due to this, air enters the tympanic cavity, which maintains Atmosphere pressure.
- The inner ear converts vibrations into nerve impulses . Impulses along the auditory nerve enter the brain, the hearing center. In fact, the inner ear is the apparatus that perceives sounds. It is enclosed in the hardest bone in the human skeleton - the temporal bone. It consists of the membranous labyrinth - the organ of balance (which we do not consider in this article), and the cochlea with the organ of Corti, which is the organ of hearing itself. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped bony canal filled with fluid. This channel is separated by a membrane that resembles a tiny stringed instrument, where the role of the strings is played by thin transverse fibers. In addition, the membrane is covered with hair cells (organ of Corti), which convert vibrations of the membrane into nerve impulses and transmit them to the endings of the auditory nerves.
Functionally, the auditory part of the ear can be divided into 2 zones:
- Sound-conducting : shell, external meatus, tympanic membrane and the cavity behind it, labyrinthine fluid. Damage and disease of this part of the ear lead to hearing loss and hearing loss.
- Sound-perceiving : auditory hair cells, endings and the entire auditory nerve, central conductors and part of the brain. Diseases of this part of the hearing aid can lead not only to hearing loss, but also to complete deafness.
The causes of hearing loss can be diseases of the tissues and structures that make up the hearing aid and adjacent organs, as well as heredity and physiological characteristics of a particular person. We must also remember about possible congenital defects of the hearing aid.
A very common and easily correctable hearing defect is associated with insufficient self-cleaning of the ear canal from wax. Earwax– secretions of the glands of the auditory canal, which protects the skin and ear from infections, water and foreign particles. An excess of this secretion leads to the appearance of dense lumps - traffic jams, which disrupt the process of sound transmission. This is typical for people with metabolic disorders, oily skin, working in dusty and humid areas, using earplugs, or being silent for a long time.
Hearing test
The most common inflammatory ear disease is a variety of otitis of the external and, most often, middle ear, which can have a chronic, including purulent, course. Purulent otitis often provokes perforation of the eardrum. Diseases of the inner ear, such as otosclerosis, cochlear neuritis, Meniere's disease, labyrinthitis, can be infectious, genetic and of unknown origin, for example, caused by maternal illnesses during pregnancy. They are accompanied simultaneously with hearing loss by dizziness and tinnitus. Hearing loss can occur as a result of injury that destroys the eardrum or the small bones in the eardrum.
General diseases and aging of the body, degenerative processes in the vascular, nervous and circulatory systems have a great impact on hearing. 30% of people over 65 and almost 50 over 75 experience age-related hearing loss. In addition, hearing is impaired by certain medications. In the latter case, the process can be either reversible or irreversible. For example, while aspirin or diuretics (Lasix, furosemide) cause reversible hearing problems, gentamicin, streptomycin and similar antibiotics, as well as antiarrhythmic drugs, can cause irreversible changes. Therefore, in addition to strictly following the doctor’s recommendations when taking various medications, you need to monitor yourself and at the first signs of intoxication, such as dizziness, tinnitus, and hearing loss, immediately stop taking it and consult a doctor.
Hearing acuity is also affected by external factors. Airport noise, heavy traffic, some industries and heavy music are harmful to the human ear. Not in this series last place occupied by players and Cell phones with small headphones that are inserted directly into the ear. Thanks to such advances in civilization, the current generation of children, young people and middle-aged people hears worse than previous generations. In addition to hearing impairment from loud music or speech that comes directly into the ear from the earphone, these devices reduce a person’s protection from the external environment; with them it is very easy to get hit by a car!
Obviously, problems with hearing loss, complete or partial, can only be solved by a doctor; he must find the cause and make an accurate diagnosis - hearing loss or deafness. Deafness They consider a condition in which a person does not perceive spoken language at the very ear. At the same time, irreversible deafness, including congenital, is considered a social and pedagogical concept, which includes the training and adaptation of a person in the proposed conditions for a full life in a society of well-hearing people.
Hearing loss- a medical problem that is treated as conservative methods(medicines, physical therapy), surgical methods, and rehabilitation is carried out using hearing aids to compensate for lost capabilities and modern induction systems. There are 3 degrees hearing loss:
- mild – impaired perception of whispers
- medium – impaired perception of normal spoken speech at a distance of 1-4 m
- severe – decreased perception of spoken speech at a distance of less than 1 m
In the fight for good hearing, you need to use all possibilities. Having found out the diagnosis, received recommendations for traditional treatment and followed them, you can use folk and folk recipes. alternative medicine. However, this issue should also be discussed with your doctor, enlist his support and follow the recommendations received.
How to get rid of wax plugs
To facilitate the removal of earwax and self-cleaning of the ear, a small amount is instilled into it half an hour before taking a shower (but not every day!) warm solution baking soda. This solution is prepared at the rate of half a teaspoon per half glass of water. Another option is to instill a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, but you must remember that excessive use of hydrogen peroxide contributes to dryness and irritation of the skin in the ear canal.
Video story about symptoms and treatment of wax plug in the ear
Treatment of otitis media with folk remedies
Garlic drops are very effective. However, they take time to prepare. Therefore, people prone to this disease should make them in advance and store them in the refrigerator. You need to take a pulp of crushed garlic and vegetable oil in equal quantities, for example 1 teaspoon each, mix them, put them in a dark glass bottle, close tightly and put in a warm place for 10 days, shake periodically. Then carefully filter the solution and press it through gauze folded in several layers. Add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil (can be replaced with glycerin) and shake. Drip several times a day, warm the drops a little before instilling.
Powerful therapeutic effect has propolis. The easiest way is to buy a ready-made alcohol tincture at the pharmacy. Several times a day, cleaned from pus Place a tampon moistened with tincture in the ear for 2-3 minutes. In addition to anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and wound-healing effects, propolis has a certain warming effect, so you don’t need to go outside with such a tampon. For prolonged exposure to propolis on the ear for non-purulent processes, the tincture is mixed with olive or almond oil 1:4. The mixture is shaken and soaked in a gauze swab, placed in the ear for several hours, for children no more than 12, and for adults it can be left for a day.
Chinese gymnastics to improve hearing
- Rub your palms or warm them on a hot radiator. Close your ears tightly with warm palms for 5 seconds and quickly remove your hands.
- Using your three middle fingers, drum on your ears for a few seconds.
- Insert your index fingers into your ears and pull them out sharply.
These are the simplest and safest exercises to improve hearing; each one should be repeated 10-12 times, 1-2 times a day.
Massage of reflex zones to improve hearing
The course of treatment and self-medication with massage, or rather recovery and rehabilitation, is quite long. It can last for several months. Moreover, some experts consider it necessary to use a maintenance regimen throughout life, especially for people who have suffered from a disease or have a genetic predisposition and tendency to have hearing problems. The convenience of this method is that the exercises can be done not only in front of the TV, but also in transport, in class, at work and in the cinema. Typically, all procedures to improve hearing are carried out in the morning and evening. With such treatment, you must not only believe in its success, but be determined to work long and hard. Obviously, massage of reflex zones cannot be the only treatment method in complex or severe cases.
- Pinch the tips of the ring and middle fingers on the hands and the third and fourth on the feet with a clothespin or wrap them tightly with an elastic band until they turn blue for 2 minutes.
- Massage the joints on the hands at the base of the fingers and the lateral surfaces of the fingers, especially carefully on the ring and little fingers.
- Press the teeth of a metal comb onto the tips of all fingers and hold for 2 minutes.
- Press on the tongue from the side of the problem ear and hold for 10 minutes. In case of a damaged eardrum, this exercise will not help.
- Place a thick piece of cotton wool on the jaw behind the wisdom teeth and bite it hard for 2 minutes.
- Use your thumb and forefinger to feel the sensitive points on the ear and rub these points and the entire ear for 5 minutes a day.
- Insert thumb into the ear canal and make light rotational movements back and forth for 1 minute a day.
- Massage the reflex zones of the sinuses, eyes, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary organs on the hands and feet by pressing for 10 seconds for a total of 10 minutes a day. Seconds can be measured evenly: 1, 2, 3,... and 10.
Video exercises to improve hearing
It is very important throughout your life, with each new year, to be more and more attentive to your body and health, to provide it with timely assistance in all situations. When thinking about how to improve hearing, prevent hearing loss and ear diseases, you can wipe them with calendula tincture before going to bed, and then massage the tragus. And in the morning, rub until your ears feel like they’re burning, especially since it’s beneficial for the health of the whole body.
Modern society is impossible without modern systems communications. Internet, television, cellular, navigation systems - all this is rapidly developing and becoming part of Everyday life. A cell phone is a person’s constant companion, and many works have been written about its negative impact.
Both doctors and patients themselves know that sensorineural hearing loss is a polyetiological disease - that is, its development is based on many factors. In some, the cause of hearing loss was the use of ototoxic antibiotics (a group of aminoglycosides, polymyxins, streptomycins, vancomycin); in others, it was barotrauma (contusion), infectious diseases, and hypertension.
According to researchers and practitioners, about 6% of the world's population suffers from hearing loss. And most cases of hearing loss are sensorineural hearing loss. For society, this is a fairly significant figure, especially considering the ever-increasing growth of factors that negatively affect hearing.
Modern society is impossible without modern communication systems. The Internet, television, cellular communications, navigation systems - all this is rapidly developing and becoming part of everyday life. Doctors and scientists are developing measures to help prevent the negative effects of electronic communications devices. The same cell phone is a person’s constant companion, and many works have been written about its negative impact. But most often they consider the aspect of the influence of radio radiation on the brain, as well as other body systems. Undoubtedly, human tissues are sensitive to the effects of waves of any origin and any length, especially on close range. And, since the period of widespread use of radiocommunications individual devices is still very short, doctors advise playing it safe and reducing the duration and volume of contact of devices with important parts of the body.
But somehow less is said about that, then Negative influence the same cell phones can also manifest themselves in terms of their effect on hearing. One of the reasons is the use of “speakerphone”, when the phone is brought close to the ear. Of course, this will help to hear the caller in a noisy environment. A few seconds and 2-3 episodes per year of such communication will have no practical significance in terms of impact on hearing. But a long conversation, abuse of “speakerphone” near the ear is one of the causes of sound trauma, leading to ear loss.
The second worrying aspect is the use of wired and wireless headsets. With this method of receiving calls and conducting conversations, the sound source is located directly in the ear, dangerously close to its sound-receiving and sound-conducting systems.
The trouble is that with this effect, excessive irritation of the hair cells of the cochlea occurs. These cells are very sensitive and are easily killed by excessive exposure to loud sounds. Constant hyperexcitation of the cochlear hair holes ultimately leads to the fact that the cortical neurons of the auditory analyzer, the most “thin” and most sensitive, work under conditions of excessive irritation. The brain is an extremely complex system. And, without knowing its morphology, it is difficult to understand how the processes occurring in it are interconnected. But doctors know that massive, super-powerful irritation of the areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing inevitably leads to a decrease in a person’s mental level. In addition, if such a negative influence of the sound environment appears on the brain of a child or adolescent, then such a decrease becomes even more dangerous in terms of consequences. And, as you know, the demographic that most widely uses headsets is young people.
Here I would like to mention another, less widely known phenomenon, which also has a huge negative impact on the human hearing system as a whole and not its individual components, and, worst of all, on the human nervous system. It's about about infrasound. If the negative impact of sound and noise can be felt, heard or even guessed, then it is impossible to know that infrasound affects a person by subjective sensations. Lying beyond human audibility, it is always present in any sound complex. Infrasound has an irritating effect on the nervous system and vestibular apparatus, which leads to corresponding disorders.
Considering the above, we must remember that the human body is a finely tuned, sensitive system, where all its components are interconnected and have mutual influence. Unfortunately, society, especially its young part, treats its body as a testing ground with increased protection. Such an overestimation of the body’s capabilities leads to its premature wear and tear and the emergence at a young age of pathologies that were previously considered senile. And then I already remember a slightly sad saying, but reflecting the real state of affairs: “if youth knew, if old age could.”
Did you know that uncontrolled use of some medications can also have side effects? Any side effect always turns out to be an unpleasant “surprise”. Especially if it concerns the senses. One of the senses that can perceive information remotely is hearing.
With any degree of hearing loss, a person feels great discomfort, and his life becomes much more difficult. And one of the causes of hearing loss is taking certain medications. Today we will look at what affects our hearing.
The negative effect of hearing loss caused by certain medications is called ototoxicity. Many people know that antibiotics affect hearing. Antibiotics from the aminoglycoside group (streptomycin, gentamicin, neomycin, amikacin, etc.) have the most toxic effect on hearing.
Just a short time ago, these drugs were widely used in pediatric practice. The danger of using them is that they had a delayed effect, that is, hearing loss manifests itself after many years. Taking these antibiotics in youth can cause hearing loss in old age. Usually in such cases, hearing loss is attributed to age-related changes. Both of these effects overlap each other and as a result the person receives high degree hearing loss.
It has already been proven that ototoxicity depends on age. The younger the patient receiving treatment with such antibiotics, the more severe the hearing loss will be in the future. If an adult received antibiotics, then he probably will not notice any changes in hearing. But a newborn child can become completely deaf. In a schoolchild, hearing loss will also be noticeable.
But taking these antibiotics does not mean that you started using them and everyone immediately went deaf. Ototoxicity usually occurs when antibiotics are taken for a long time, in high dosages and uncontrolled.
But modern antibiotics from the macrolide group also have ototoxic properties. Such antibiotics include erythromycin, sumamed. But unlike antibiotics of the previous generation, these have a passing, reversible effect and do not cause permanent changes after use
In terms of ototoxicity, diuretics are in second place and the most commonly used is furosemide (Lasix).
Aspirin or acetylsalecylic acid, which we take at elevated temperatures and to thin the blood to prevent thrombosis, also has this effect. But its negative effect manifests itself when long-term use and most often in adults.
Cisplatin, which was used to treat bladder tumors, has a similar effect. Quinine, which was previously used to treat malaria and induce labor, can generally cause irreversible hearing loss. But it’s good that these drugs are now used extremely rarely, but the consequences for someone from their use probably remain.
Hearing loss and medications
Medicines, regardless of the method of their administration, are excreted from the body by the kidneys. Therefore, any disruption of the kidneys can lead to the fact that drugs that are not eliminated from the body will accumulate in the blood. At some point, the level of drugs will reach such a concentration that it will damage your hearing.
Of all the antibiotics, neomycin has the greatest toxic effect on hearing. Next in terms of the degree of reduction in the effect on hearing are kanamycin and amikacin.
Some antibiotics not only affect hearing, but also the functioning of the vestibular apparatus. Such drugs include streptomycin, gentamicin, florimycin and tobramycin. Violation of the vestibular apparatus is expressed in loss of balance and dizziness.
Patients who have renal failure patients receiving intravenous diuretics, such as furosemide or ethacrynic acid, and antibiotics at the same time, it is possible that they may develop profound, irreversible hearing loss.
- Do not take antibiotics, especially those listed above, without a doctor's prescription. Especially when you have a cold. Most often, what we call a cold is a viral disease in which the antibiotic has no effect on the virus.
- Do not self-medicate. Usually, when prescribing medications, the doctor assesses your condition and the presence of concomitant pathologies.
- When using medications, especially antibiotics, it is very important to know the daily and single dose of the medicine, as well as how this medicine “works” in the body. Only a doctor can know this.
- If you know that you are intolerant to some antibiotics, be sure to tell your doctor.
- The presence of some chronic kidney disease, liver disease, or existing hearing loss are contraindications to taking certain medications.
- If you start taking antibiotics and have problems with your hearing, you should immediately tell your doctor, who will recommend you take other alternative medications.
Causes of hearing loss in adults
Industrial noise. This is a chaotic combination of sounds of varying intensities and frequencies. Typically, this combination can be found in production, where a large amount of equipment is used. In this case, hearing loss will depend on the noise level and work experience. Noise with a frequency of about 4 thousand hertz has a strong damaging effect. If a person is in such a noisy room for a short time, then his hearing can be restored in just 3 minutes. But the longer the experience, the less reversible the hearing becomes. If you work in a noisy industry for more than 10 years, it can lead to severe hearing impairment, which will be expressed in impaired perception of spoken speech.
The noise of city streets. This is no less harmless noise to which residents of large cities are exposed. This noise is created by the movement of a large number of vehicles, the sounds of construction equipment, people screaming, dogs barking, etc.
Loud music. This is another factor that has a very negative effect on our hearing organ. There is a category of people who love to listen to music “to the fullest” and are ready to listen to their favorite works all the time at home, in the car, or at a disco. This is especially common among teenagers. The result of such loud listening to music can be not only hearing loss, but also reduced concentration, ability to remember information and thinking.
Headphones. This is another bad habit of listening to music through headphones. Thanks to this habit, there is an increase in people with hearing impairment and doctors are already sounding the alarm about this. The fact is that when listening to loud music on headphones, the sound goes straight to the inner ear, which is unnatural, especially when the headphones are plugged into the ear.
Since the important stage of sound passing through the auricle is passed, the sound immediately enters the ear canal, the perception of sound is different. In such cases, the volume increases further, resulting in a sound of such magnitude that it exceeds much safe level. Listening to music at this volume on headphones every day for more than 1 hour can already cause hearing problems. And if you listen to music constantly, then there is a high probability of hearing loss altogether.
Harm from pressure changes. This can happen when flying on airplanes at high altitudes or when diving, when you descend to great depths. This is due to the fact that any environment has its own pressure. Inside the cavities of the body, a person also has its own pressure. And if a person rises high on an airplane or falls deep under water, then it takes some time to balance these pressures. Typically, a sharp change in pressure is accompanied by tinnitus and hearing loss.
To prevent this from happening, for example, when taking off or landing an airplane, it is necessary to make swallowing movements to equalize the pressure in the inner ear. When diving, you must strictly follow the instructor’s recommendations, make periodic stops, and “blow out” your ears. If you experience any unpleasant sensations, you must stop further diving.
If a change in pressure occurs suddenly, it can be complicated by serious injuries to the hearing organ: pain in the ears, bleeding from the ear, and more serious complications - rupture of the eardrum or membrane round window in the inner ear.
General condition of the body. Many chronic diseases also affect our hearing. For example, with atherosclerosis, the lumen of the arteries supplying the ear can be clogged with cholesterol plaques. This happens when diabetes mellitus, hypertension. Typically, such conditions are accompanied by congestion and tinnitus.
Infectious diseases such as meningitis, tonsillitis, and influenza can cause complications in the form of hearing impairment.
Noticeable hearing impairment occurs in alcoholics, especially those who drink alcoholic beverages of dubious quality. Moreover, alcohol affects hearing not only through complications of underlying diseases, but also alcoholic drinks themselves have a damaging effect on the hearing organ.
But it turns out that not everything is so bad!
Scientists have found that classical music has a positive effect on hearing! And this has been known for a long time. Mozart's music is especially effective in treating hearing loss and restoration.
Listening to Mozart's compositions helps children develop good hearing (not musical), improves attention, thinking and memory. So the right music helps not only improve your hearing, but also your intellect.
We have analyzed all the points that can affect the state of our hearing. And it depends on us how we take care of such an important sense organ, and how we will perceive the world around us. And if we take care of our health and fulfill simple tips, then let's save our hearing long years. And we will be happy to hear not only each other, but also the quiet rustling of tree leaves.
Study of the effect of headphones on hearing - page No. 1/1
XIX municipal scientific and practical conference of students
“Culture. Intelligence. The science"
Study of the influence of headphones
aurally
Section:“Medicine and Health. Basics of healthy eating"
Educational and research work
Completed:
Sidorenko Maxim Yurievich,
Fedina Vladislava Albertovna
Municipal Educational Institution Secondary School No. 104, 10th grade,
ZATO Zheleznogorsk, village. Podgorny,
Scientific adviser:
Kolegova Irina Vladimirovna – teacher of physics and computer science.
Zheleznogorsk - 2011
Content
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………3
Chapter I. general characteristics effects of noise on the organ of hearing….4
I.1.Noise and its characteristics………………………………………….4
I.2. Human perception of noise………………………………………………………6
I.3.Ear diseases associated with exposure to noise…………………..7
Chapter II. Characteristics and classification of headphones……………..11
II.1. History of the creation of headphones…………………………………….11
II.2 Headphone design…………………………………………...12
II.3. Classification of headphones……………………………………………………….12
II.4. Technical characteristics………………………………………………………..16
Chapter III. Progress of the study………………………………………….18
III.1. Headphone evaluation………………………………………………………….18
III.2. Determining the sound pressure level of headphones………....20
III.3. Student survey, questionnaire analysis………………………..22
Conclusions………………………………………………………………………………….25
Literature………………………………………………………………………………26
Applications………………………………………………………..27
Introduction
Hearing is the most important of human senses. With the help of hearing, we maintain a close connection with the world around us. Therefore, it must be protected. There are many causes of hearing loss. One of them is the impact of noise on the organ of hearing.
We set ourselves the goal: To prove that headphones have an extremely negative effect on the health of schoolchildren.
To achieve the goal, the following tasks were set:
Tasks: 1) Examine the headphones; 2) Determine the sound pressure level of the headphones; 3) Investigate the impact of noise on the organ of hearing; 4) Conduct a survey of students about how they use headphones; 5) Draw a conclusion based on the data obtained.
The following methods were used in the work:
Methods: 1)Collection of information; 2) Analysis of statistical sources; 3) Survey method; 4) Method of processing and obtaining data; 5) Calculation method
Literary sources
We received basic information about sound, its properties, and characteristics from books and electronic media:
To study the structure of the ear, its perception of sound waves and possible diseases, we used the following literature:
“Biology 9th grade” A.M. Tsuzmer, O.L. Petrishina, “Paramedic's Handbook. Volume 1" ed. A.A. Mikhailov, http://festival.1september.ru/articles/504678/ .
We took the formula for finding sound pressure from e-book"Noise." R. Taylor Trans. from English D. I. Arnold. Ed. M. A. Isakovich. M., "Mir", 1978. ( http://ivanstor.narod.ru/noise/203.htm)
To study headphones, we used the following medium http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki.
CHAPTER I. General characteristics of the effects of noise on the organ of hearing
I.1. Noise and its main characteristics
First, we decided to find out what noise is and consider how it is characterized.
Noise is a random combination of sounds of varying intensity and frequency.
From a physiological point of view, this is any unfavorable perceived sound. Thus, when talking about noise, we will consider the characteristics of sound, since noise is sound. What is sound? From 9th grade physics we know that sound is elastic waves propagating in gases, liquids, solids and perceived by the ear of humans and animals. The mechanical waves that cause the sensation of sound are called sound waves. Sound waves are longitudinal, i.e. this is an alternation of condensations and rarefactions (see Fig. 1, electronic medium No. 15).
Fig.1 Propagation of sound in air
The sound is characterized by:
The amplitude of vibration of a sound wave is the largest deviation from the equilibrium position.
Wavelength λ(m) is the distance traveled by a sound wave in one complete oscillation (period T) in the sound propagation medium.
Frequency ƒ (Hz) is the number of oscillations (periods T) of sound performed in one second.
The speed of a sound wave is the speed C (m/s) of the movement of the wave (compressed or rarefied section) in the medium under consideration.
The strength of sound is the amount of energy of a sound wave perpendicular to the direction of sound propagation, an area of 1 cm 2 per second.
Sound pressure is excess (super-atmospheric) pressure that is created by a sound wave in the medium of sound propagation (sound strength and sound pressure are related by a quadratic relationship).
Physiological characteristics depend on these characteristics: pitch, volume, timbre of sound. We will take a closer look at the characteristic of sound that interests us – loudness.
We know that the volume of a sound depends on the intensity of the sound, i.e. determined by the amplitude of vibrations in a sound wave. The hearing organs are most sensitive to sounds with frequencies from 700 to 6000 Hz. In this range, the ear is capable of perceiving sounds with an intensity of about 10 -12 - 10 -11 W/m2.
The hearing threshold is the lowest intensity of a sound wave that can be perceived by the hearing organs. The standard hearing threshold is assumed to be J 0 =10 -12 W/m 2 at a frequency V 0 =1 kHz. The threshold of touch (threshold of pain) is the highest intensity of the sound wave at which the perception of sound does not cause pain. The threshold of touch depends on the frequency of sound, varying from 0.1 W/m2 at 6000 Hz to 10 W/m2 at low and high frequencies.
Sound waves with frequencies from 16 to 2*10 4 Hz affect the human hearing organs, cause auditory sensations and are called audible sounds. Sound waves with frequencies less than 16 Hz are called infrasounds, and those with frequencies more than 2*10 4 Hz are called ultrasounds.
The first region adjacent to the infrasound boundary is called low frequencies (LF). The third region, adjacent to the ultrasound boundary, is called high frequency (HF). The second region, lying between LF and HF, is called mid-sound frequencies (MF).
The perception of sound by the hearing organs depends on what frequencies are included in the sound wave. Noises are sounds that form a set of frequencies that continuously fill a certain interval (a continuous spectrum of frequencies). Musical (tonal) sounds have a linear spectrum of frequencies: the frequencies V i that are part of musical sounds form a series of discrete (discontinuous) values. Musical sounds correspond to periodic or almost periodic vibrations.
I.2. Human perception of noise
H 
To understand how noise affects hearing, it is necessary to consider the structure of the hearing organ (ear) (see Fig. 2, electronic media No. 15). The human ear consists of 3 parts: outer, middle and inner.
Rice. 3
The outer ear consists
from the auricle and auditory window, ending in the eardrum.
The middle ear is an air-filled cavity containing three auditory ossicles - the malleus, the incus and the stapes (see Fig. 3, electronic media no. 15). This cavity is connected to the nasopharynx via the Eustachian tube. The inner ear is shaped like a snail and is filled with lymphatic fluid. Along the entire length of the cochlea there is a main membrane consisting of 4-5 thousand fibers. Along the main membrane is the organ of Corti, containing about 30,000 sensitive hair cells.
Rice. 4
the entrance to which the endings of the auditory nerve approach (see Fig. 4, carrier No. 5).
H 
Humans have a rather complex apparatus for perceiving sounds. Sound vibrations are collected by the auricle and act on the eardrum through the auditory canal. Vibrations of the latter are transmitted through a system of small bones to a second elastic membrane, the so-called oval window, which closes a small cavity of the cochlea filled with fluid (lymph). Inside the cochlea there are a large number of special fibers that have different lengths and tensions, and, consequently, different natural frequencies of vibration. When exposed to a complex sound, each of these fibers resonates to that component tone, the frequency of which coincides with the natural frequency of the fiber, and irritates the corresponding endings of the auditory nerve.
The set of resonant frequencies in the hearing aid determines the area of sound vibrations we perceive (16 – 20,000 Hz).
I.3. Ear diseases associated with noise exposure
Many people are not aware that loud noise kills sensory hair cells, which do not recover after death, just like any other nerve cells. A powerful sound impulse near the ear, for example, a shot from toy gun or the explosion of a New Year's cracker can permanently damage your hearing. Even more insidious is the long-term noise that people are exposed to, for example, listening to music for a long time. If you do not use hearing protection, then after a while, slowly and completely imperceptibly, a person will develop hearing loss.
When listening to very loud music for a long time, injury to the structures of the middle ear can occur, and hemorrhage into the hearing aid is also possible. With regular exposure to loud sounds, a person’s auditory analyzer and central nervous system are depressed. nervous system. This leads to fatigue and increased irritation to environmental factors.
Loud sound affects the entire hearing system, including the hairs in the ear, which serve to intercept sounds and help process them. They usually die off in old age, but constant exposure to excessively loud noise can speed up the process. According to scientists, this is important to remember because... The death of hairs can make the process of premature hearing loss irreversible.
AND
Table No. 1
There are the following diseases of the hearing organ (see Table No. 1, carrier No. 4).
|
Name of the disease |
Clinical picture |
Causes |
|
Aerootite |
Inflammation of the middle ear that occurs due to sudden changes in ambient air pressure |
Constant sudden changes in pressure (occupational disease of pilots) |
|
Labyrinthitis |
Inflammation, purulent or non-purulent, of the morning ear (ear labyrinth) |
Colds |
|
Maniere's disease |
Increased amount of labyrinthine fluid and increased intralabyrinthine pressure |
The reasons are not well understood |
|
Cochlear neuritis (auditory nerve) |
Hearing loss (impaired sound perception) and tinnitus |
Infectious diseases, atherosclerosis, intoxication with nicotine, alcohol, noise and vibration trauma |
|
Othematoma |
Hemorrhage from the outer surface of the auricle |
Conchal ear injuries (wrestlers, boxers) |
|
Injury |
Blows, bruises |
|
|
Otitis |
Ear infection |
infections |
|
Otomycosis |
Development of mold fungi on the walls of the ear canal |
Humid environment, suppurative otitis media, long-term use of antibiotics |
|
Otosclerosis |
Focal lesion of the bone capsule of the labyrinth of unknown etiology, characterized by hearing loss and tinnitus |
The reasons are little known. The disease occurs during puberty |
|
Hearing loss |
Persistent hearing loss causing difficulty understanding speech |
Impaired mobility of the eardrum and auditory ossicles. |
|
Deafness |
A sharp degree of hearing loss at which speech perception becomes impossible |
Congenital and acquired |
Let's consider the disease we are interested in - hearing loss. Hearing loss- persistent hearing loss, in which communication with others becomes difficult. The main symptom of this disease is permanent hearing loss in both ears, initially in the high frequency region (above 400 Hz), with subsequent spread to lower frequencies that determine the ability to perceive speech. Thus, a patient suffering from such a disease is unable to communicate using speech at normal volume with the people around him. As for deafness, with this form the patient hears practically nothing.
There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed. Let us dwell on sensorineural hearing loss, because one of the reasons for its occurrence is noise exposure. Most cases of sensorineural hearing loss occur due to pathology of the hair cells of the organ of Corti of the cochlea. There are cases of sensorineural hearing loss due to pathology of the VIII cranial nerve or in the parts of the brain responsible for hearing. In rare cases, this type of hearing loss affects only the auditory centers of the brain (central hearing loss). Such disorders can lead to all degrees of deafness - from mild to severe - and even complete hearing loss.
An example of sensorineural hearing loss is the disease Cochlear Neuritis. Cochlear neuritis (auditory neuritis, cochlear nerve neuritis) is a disease of the auditory analyzer, manifested by sensorineural (perceptual) hearing loss and subjective noise in one or both ears.
The reasons are varied. The most important of them are general infectious diseases, atherosclerosis, metabolic and blood diseases, intoxication with drugs, nicotine, alcohol; circulatory disorders in the internal carotid artery; exposure to industrial toxic substances; noise and vibration injuries, stressful situations.
Note that there are three degrees of hearing loss: mild (whispered speech is perceived from a distance of 1-3 m and spoken speech is perceived from a distance of 4 m or more); medium (whispering speech - less than 1 m, conversational speech - less than 2-4 m); severe (whispered speech is not perceived, conversational speech is less than 1 m). Cochlear neuritis changes in all three degrees as it develops.
CHAPTER II. Characteristics and classification of headphones.
II.1. History of headphones
History is silent about who was the first to connect two sound emitters in series and attach them to a headband. But the famous German electroacousticist Bayer, the creator of the Beyerdynamic company, was the first to think of using electrodynamic loudspeakers in headphones (DT48, produced since 1937).
 |
Rice. 5
The Koss Company was founded in 1953 by John C. Koss.
N 
Rice. 6
Having started with the business of renting television receivers in hospitals, already in 1958 John Koss together with Martin Lange (see Fig. No. 5, electronic media No. 17) introduced new model phonograph at the Hi-Fi show in Milwaukee (USA). But, unexpectedly, aviation headphones became a real hit, with the help of which the capabilities of the phonograph were demonstrated.
And John Koss, having launched his first model of stereo headphones SP-3 (see Fig. No. 6, electronic media No. 17), actually became the founder of the global personal audio industry.
In the 60s, Koss was already a trendsetter in the music industry.
However, the company never forgot its roots. And by the end of the 60s it remained one of the largest suppliers of headphones for the American Air Force.
In the 70 years that have passed since the appearance of the first dynamic headphones, no fundamental design changes have occurred. The components remain the same - these are the headband, earcups with emitters (diaphragm, coil and magnetic circuit) inside and ear pads. However, today's requirements for the performance parameters and design of headphones are much higher. In this regard, manufacturers had to radically reconsider the technology and materials used for the production of all headphone components.
When the world was conquered by stereophony, another important event happened - headphones appeared. open type(Sennheiser HD 414, 1968) with open-back, i.e. acoustically transparent cups.
I
Fig.7
I.2 Headphone design
We also reviewed headphones.
Headphones or headphones (eng. headphone) - a device for personal listening to music, speech or other sound signals.
Figure 7 (media No. 7) schematically shows the device of a closed-type dynamic headphone (one of a pair). Inside the housing 1 there is an electrodynamic loudspeaker 2 (3 is a diffuser). In order to prevent the occurrence of resonant vibrations, the volume under the diffuser is filled with damping material 4. The diffuser is protected by an acoustically transparent grille 5. A soft ear pad is adjacent to the edge of the body and at the same time to the auricle (not shown in the figure, as is the headband).
II.3. Headphone classification
Headphones are usually classified according to several main criteria, which include the type of acoustic transducer, wearing style and area of application.
According to the method of transmitting the electrical signal
WIRED - connected to the source by wire, so they can provide maximum sound quality (accordingly, professional-oriented headphones belong exclusively to this type);
WIRELESS - connected to the source via a wireless channel of one type or another - radio, infrared, Bluetooth. They are mobile, but are tied to a base (emitter) and have a limited range, determined by the power of the emitter. They have lower sound quality compared to wired ones, due to the modulation process during encoding-decoding required when transmitting a signal from the emitter to the receiver in headphones.
By type of design (type)
Inserts (common name - “earbuds”) - are inserted into the auricle;
Intracanal (the common name is “plugs”) - inserted into the ear canal;
Overhead - placed on the ear;
Full-size or monitor - completely cover the ear.
Headband - headphones with a vertical arm that connects the two ear cups;
Nuchal arch - connects the two parts of the headphones, but is located at the back of the head. The main mechanical load is directed to the ears;
Ear mounts - usually these types of headphones are attached to the ears using a hook or clips;
Without fastenings - they are held in place only by the ear pads that are located in the ear canal.
Double-sided - the connecting cable is connected to each of the earcups;
Single-sided - the connecting cable is connected to only one of the earcups, the second is connected by a wire tap from the first, often hidden in the earpiece.
Dynamic - use the electrodynamic principle of transformation. The most common type of headphones. Structurally, the earphone is a radiator or membrane to which a coil of wire is attached, located in the magnetic field of a permanent magnet. If you let it through alternating current, then the magnetic field created by the coil will interact with magnetic field permanent magnet, as a result of which the membrane will move, repeating the shape of the electrical signal of audio frequency (see the article “Loudspeaker”). The electrodynamic method of signal conversion has many disadvantages and limitations, but the constantly improving design of such headphones and new materials make it possible to achieve very High Quality sound;
With a balanced armature - the main part is a U-shaped armature made of a ferromagnetic alloy. In colloquial speech they are often called “rebar” because of the consonance of the English word armature (anchor) with the Russian fittings;
Electrostatic - use the thinnest membrane located between two electrodes. The cost of such headphones is usually high, but they demonstrate very high sensitivity and high fidelity of the reproduced sound. The disadvantage is that they cannot be directly connected to a standard headphone output, so they come with a special docking station;
Isodynamic - a thin film membrane, with metal conductive tracks applied to it, is enclosed in a lattice of bar magnets and oscillates between them. See also Hale Emitter;
Orthodynamic - similar in principle to isodynamic, but the membrane and magnets are round in shape.
Open type - partially allows external sounds to pass through, which allows you to achieve a more natural sound. Many listeners note the sound of open headphones as more transparent and natural compared to the sound of closed headphones. In addition, open acoustic design does not make you auditory “cut off” from the outside world. However, if there is a high level of external noise, the sound in open headphones will be difficult to hear. In addition, open headphones operating at high volume can disturb others. Does not create pressure on the inner ear;
Semi-open type (or semi-closed type) - have many of the properties of open headphones, but at the same time provide decent sound insulation;
Closed type - do not allow external noise to pass through and provide maximum sound insulation, which allows them to be used in noisy environments, as well as in cases where you need to fully concentrate on listening. If the ear pads (cups) fit poorly on closed headphones, the reproduction of low frequencies deteriorates, so with closed headphones with a bow, the pressure they produce on the head is usually higher than with open ones.
Low resistance - with resistance from a few ohms to several hundred ohms;
High-resistance - with a resistance from a few kOhms to several tens of kOhms.
Jack (6.3);
Mini-jack (3.5);
Micro-jack (2.5), etc.;
The main technical characteristics are: frequency range, sensitivity, resistance, maximum power and distortion level as a percentage.
Frequency response
This characteristic affects the sound quality of the headphones. Headphones with a larger membrane diameter have improved sound quality. Average frequency response 18 Hz - 20,000 Hz.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity affects the volume of sound in the headphones. Typically, headphones provide a sensitivity of at least 100 dB; with less sensitivity, the sound may be too quiet (especially when using headphones with a player or similar devices). Sensitivity is affected by the material of the magnetic core used in the headphones (for example, neodymium magnetic cores). In-ear headphones with a small membrane diameter have a low-power magnet.
Resistance (impedance)
What is important here is the correspondence between the modulus of the total electrical impedance of the headphones and the output impedance of the sound source.
Maximum power
The maximum (rated) input power determines the sound volume.
Distortion level
The level of distortion in headphones is measured as a percentage. The lower this percentage, the better the sound quality. Headphone distortion of less than 1% in the frequency band from 100 Hz to 2 kHz is acceptable, while 10% is acceptable below 100 Hz.
Chapter III. Progress of the study
III.1. Headphone evaluation
The basic criteria when evaluating headphones are sound quality and comfort.
As you know, the feeling of 3-dimensionality of sound space appears to us due to the interaction of the sound wave with the head, shoulders and ears. Depending on the direction of propagation, sound interacts with them differently and changes its phase, frequency and amplitude characteristics. Based on the analysis of these changes, our brain draws conclusions about the location of the sound source.
When listening to music through headphones, almost all natural human mechanisms for localizing sound in space are unused. Headphones are worn directly on the ears, so neither the head nor the body of a person influences the characteristics of the audible sound. On-ear headphones are pressed quite tightly to the auricle, in turn, pressing it to the head. This position is unnatural for the outer ear, and the pinna, which is essentially a spatial frequency decoding device, cannot determine the location of the sound source. If we consider in-ear headphones, or, moreover, earplugs, then the situation with them is even more complicated, since they work directly in the ear canal and the complex geometry of the auricle does not participate at all in the formation of the sound image. All these circumstances lead to the fact that the sound field transmitted by headphones seems to be “inside the listener’s head”, and is not localized in the space in front of him, as it should ideally be.
The universal criteria for choosing headphones are sound quality and ergonomic properties of the headphones.
The following signs indicate sound quality::
clear sound, without distortion or interference
deep, clear bass
The convenience of headphones lies in the following facts:
Comfort - any discomfort will only increase with prolonged wear. If these are in-ear headphones, make sure that they do not fall out of your ears and do not cause discomfort. In this aspect, one of the key design elements of the headphones is the headband. What material it is made of is not important; Today's plastic is as strong as metal. Something else is important. The headband and partly the ear pads determine the contact pressure of the headphones - a parameter measured in Newtons and which appeared in the specifications relatively recently. A pair of headband and ear pads ensures uniform distribution of the load on different parts of the user’s head. If there is a lot of pressure on the crown or on the ears, fatigue will set in very soon. If, on the contrary, the headband is too loose, then even very tight-fitting ear pads will not be able to provide proper comfort.
Customizability - How easily the headband and ear cups can adapt to the shape of the user's head.
Type and length of wire - there are two types of wires: “Y-shaped”, bifurcating and suitable separately for each earcup, and “one-sided”, suitable for the earcups only on one side. The average wire length is 1.5-3 m.
Note that closed-type headphones have highest pressure on the middle ear than open-back headphones. Closed headphones have more bass than the recording itself. And in open-type headphones, despite the fact that there is no sound insulation, there is no prevailing bass, or “resonant” overtones, the sound is more voluminous and in them you can hear details that will not be heard in closed-type headphones.
Also, the volume level depends on the impedance of the headphones, that is, on the sum of active and reactive resistance (active is the resistance of the wire, reactive is the resistance of the emitter coil). These are highly intelligent headphones that are safer for hearing, because... These headphones will not produce any distortion or sufficient volume.
I
Rice. 7
II.2
. Determining the sound pressure level of headphones
Rice. 6
An important task of our work is to determine the sound pressure level in headphones. The auricle is the main natural mechanism for localizing sound in space (see Fig. 6
, electronic media No. 16). When using headphones, the shape of the auricle is practically not involved in the formation of sound (see Fig. 7).
To calculate the sound pressure level, we used the formula that we took from the book of the English engineer R. Taylor (Media No. 4):
, where SPL is the sound pressure level, SPL is the sound power level, r is the distance from the earphone to the eardrum.
The sound power level in dB is a function of the ratio of the power of sound waves W near the noise source to the zero value W 0 equal to 10 -12 W. The sound power level is calculated using the formula:
UZM = 10lg(W/W 0)
Table No. 2
|
№ |
Headphone name |
Headphone power, mW |
Sound power level, dB |
Sound pressure level, dB |
Sensitivity According to the passport, |
|
1 |
Panasonic HP-HIJE300 |
200 |
113 |
126 |
104 |
|
2 |
FISCHER AUDIO ICON |
60 |
108 |
121 |
106 |
|
3 |
AKG K370 |
22 |
113 |
126 |
123 |
|
4 |
Pioneer SE-CLX9 |
100 |
110 |
123 |
105 |
According to the data obtained, it is clear that in many cases the SPL exceeds 85 dB and the pain threshold.
It should be remembered that sounds with a volume of 85 dB and above already have a harmful effect on hearing. A sound of 130 dB already causes pain in a person, and at 150 it becomes unbearable for him. A sound of 180 dB causes metal fatigue, and at 190, rivets are pulled out of structures.
The loudness of the noise depends not only on the ultrasound, but also on its frequency. At low volume levels, a person is less sensitive to sounds of very low and high frequencies.
|
 |
When listening to loud music for a long time, decreased auditory activity.
III.3. Student survey, questionnaire analysis
We conducted a survey among students in grades 7-11, with the help of which we wanted to find out the conditions for listening to music on headphones and their use by modern youth (see Appendix No. 1)
The following results were obtained:
1) 95% use headphones,
2) Basically, headphones are used to lift the mood - 37%, for relaxation - 32%, to isolate from the outside world - 19% and not to disturb others - 12% (see Appendix No. 2)
3) They know the brand of their headphones - 30%
4) Know the power of their headphones 1%
5) Rock music is preferred by 8%; rap, hip hop - 30%; jazz, soul-6%...
6) When listening to music, students use the volume: low - 7%, medium - 65%, strong - 28% (see Appendix No. 3)
7) Respondents listen to music on headphones every day - 34%, several times a week - 41%, rarely - 25% (see Appendix No. 4)
8) 32% paid attention to the fact that the speech of others is not heard clearly enough after listening to music on headphones; 68% did not pay attention.
9) Guys experience sensations after listening to music: ringing in the ears - 5%, ringing in the ears - 7%, dullness of hearing - 8%, nervous sensations - 40%, headache - 4% and no sensations - 36% (see Appendix No. 5)
10) 3% went to a doctor with complaints about hearing loss, 97% did not (see Appendix No. 6)
From the statistics of our school doctor Natalya Petrovna Boevaya, we received the following data:
The number of children falling ill is decreasing from year to year.
But do not forget that in addition to the frequency and volume level of the noise, the development of hearing loss is influenced by age, hearing sensitivity, duration, nature of the noise, and a number of other reasons. The disease develops gradually, so it is especially important to take appropriate noise protection measures in advance. Under the influence of strong noise, especially high-frequency noise, irreversible changes occur in the organ of hearing. At high noise levels, a decrease in hearing sensitivity occurs within 1-2 years; at average levels, it is detected much later, after 5-10 years. The sequence in which hearing loss occurs is now well understood. Initially, intense noise causes temporary hearing loss. Under normal conditions, hearing is restored within a day or two. But if noise exposure continues for months or, as is the case in industry, years, recovery does not occur, and a temporary shift in the hearing threshold becomes permanent.
First, nerve damage affects the perception of the high-frequency range of sound vibrations (4 thousand hertz or higher), gradually spreading to lower frequencies. The high-pitched sounds “f” and “s” become inaudible.
The nerve cells of the inner ear are so damaged that they atrophy, die, and are not restored.
Noisy music too dulls hearing. A group of specialists examined young people who often listen to trendy modern music. In 20 percent of boys and girls, hearing was dulled to the same extent as in 85-year-olds.
Be sure to read all warnings and instructions before using the headphones. To avoid hearing loss, we recommend that you:
Listen to music at a volume not exceeding 50% of the maximum volume, and reduce the time you use headphones to 1 hour per day (or less).
Always mute your audio device before inserting headphones into your ears.
After inserting the headphones, gradually increase the volume until it reaches an acceptable level for you.
Using headphones at louder than normal volumes (over 85dB) or for long periods of time may impair your hearing.
Ringing in the ears and other discomfort may be a sign that you should turn down the volume.
Damage to your hearing can occur gradually or cumulatively. In many cases you can for a long time see no cause for concern. Hearing tests and medical tests are the only way to diagnose impending hearing problems. However, we strongly recommend that you consult a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
Ringing or buzzing in the ears
Difficulty recognizing someone else's speech
“Muffling” sounds
Normal hearing is very important for your ability to enjoy music and for your life in general. Protect your hearing by listening to music in reasonable amounts and at normal volumes to maintain good hearing for years to come.
CONCLUSIONS
1) We found that the instructions for acoustic headphones do not contain a warning that their use may cause irreparable harm to health.
2) Having calculated the sound pressure level, we came to the conclusion that it is necessary to use headphones at a volume not exceeding 50% of the maximum possible.
3) According to the survey, some children at our school neglect the basic rules of using headphones and do not think about the fact that they may lose their hearing.
4) Using headphones at excessive volume (more than 85 dB) and for a long time has a harmful effect on the human hearing organ.
Literature
1) Kabardin O.F. Physics: Reference. materials. Textbook manual for students. – M.: Education, 1985. – 359 p., ill.
2) Mikhailov A.A. Paramedic Handbook / A.A. Mikhailov, A.L. Isaeva, M.Kh. Turyanova and others / Ed. A.A. Mikhailova. – M.: Medicine, 1990. – In 2 volumes. T.1. – 496 p. ISBN 5 – 255 – 01181 – 0
3) Pavlenko Yu.G. Beginnings of physics. – M.: Publishing house Mosk. un-ta. 1988. – 639 p. – ISBN 5 – 211 – 00103 – 6
4) Taylor R. “Noise.” Per. from English D. I. Arnold. Ed. M. A. Isakovich. M., "Mir", 1978.
5) Tsuzmer A.M. Petrishina O.L. Biology: Man and his health: Proc. for 9th grade. general education institutions / Ed. V.N. Zagorskaya and others - 24th ed. – M.: Education, 1990. – 240 pp.: ill. – ISBN 5 – 09 – 008684 – 2
6) Elliott L., Wilcox W. Physics M., 1975, 736 pp. with illustrations.
7) Lev Orlov, “Sound Engineer” magazine, article “From headphones to headphones: history of development”, publication date 02/08/2008
Electronic resources:
8) http://www.istok-audio.com/pages.php?part=info&sub=80
9) http://ivanstor.narod.ru/noise/203.htm
10) http://www.inrost.ru/library/technical/projecting/noise/generaldata.html
11) http://article.techlabs.by/print/49_1020.html power basic concepts
12) http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki material about headphones
13) http://delta-grup.ru/bibliot/16/67.htm library of technical literature
14) http://kazakiy.h11.ru/akustika_html/akustik_001.html#f013 Sound waves for technical school
15) http://festival.1september.ru/articles/504678/ presentation, lesson
16) http://www.stereohead.ru/index.php?name=Pages&op=page&pid=29– headphones and human hearing17) http://doctorhead.ru/articles/about_koss- history headphones
Appendix No. 1
Questionnaire
Do you use headphones?
A) yes
B) no
For what purpose do you listen to music on headphones?
A) for relaxation
B) to lift your spirits
B) to isolate the outside world
D) so as not to disturb others
Do you know the brand of your headphones? If you know, which one?
A) yes___________
B) no
Do you know the power of your headphones?
A) yes ___________
B) no
What kind of music do you prefer?
A) Rock
B) Rap, hip hop
B) Jazz, Soul
D) Classic
D) Pop music
E) Club music
What sound volume do you prefer?
A) Weak
B) Average
B) Strong
How often do you listen to music on headphones?
A) Every day
B) Several times a week
B) rarely
Have you noticed that after listening to music on headphones, you don’t hear people around you clearly enough?
A) yes
B) no
How do you feel after listening to music on headphones?
A) Ringing in the ears
B) Ringing in the ears
B) Your answer_____________________
Have you consulted a doctor with complaints of hearing loss or ear pain?
A) yes
Appendix No. 2
Appendix No. 3
Appendix No. 4
Appendix No. 5
Appendix No. 6
