Evaluation of Hearing Levels of Residents Living Near a Major Airport

摘要

Audiograms and other data related to ear conditions and noise exposure were obtained from residents drawn from two neighborhoods in the greater Los Angeles area. One community bordered Los Angeles International Airport and had been subjected over the years to frequent takeoff noise of high level. Maximum rms measurements of these aircraft sounds outdoors in this neighborhood ranged from 76 to 101 dBA with a median of 88 dBA. The second community was similar to the airport one in demography but free of significant aircraft noise intrusion. Noise levels here rarely exceeded 60 dBA and commonly were 50 dBA or less. Both groups displayed average hearing levels as good and at certain frequencies slightly better than estimates obtained from the National Health Survey of 1960-1962. The overall findings did not make it possible to draw firm conclusions about community aircraft noise exposure as a cause of the apparent differences in hearing levels between the two groups. (Author)