Temporary threshold shift after noise exposure in hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude: results of the ADEMED expedition 2011

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, vol. 94, pp. 1191–1199

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether there is an increased risk for noise-induced hearing loss at high altitude rsp. in hypobaric hypoxia. METHODS: Thirteen volunteers got standard audiometry at 125, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz before and after 10 min of white noise at 90 dB. The system was calibrated for the respective altitude. Measurements were performed at Kathmandu (1400 m) and at Gorak Shep (5300 m) (Solo Khumbu/Nepal) after 10 days of acclimatization while on trek. Temporary threshold shift (TTS) was analyzed by descriptive statistics and by factor analysis. RESULTS: TTS is significantly more pronounced at high altitudes. Acclimatization does not provide any protection of the inner ear, although it increases arterial oxygen saturation. CONCLUSION: The thresholds beyond which noise protection is recommended (> 80 dB) or necessary (> 85 dB) are not sufficient at high altitudes. We suggest providing protective devices above an altitude of 1500 m ("ear threshold altitude") when noise level is higher than 75 dB and using them definitively above 80 dB. This takes the individual reaction on hypobaric hypoxia at high altitude into account.

Authors 17

1. Kerstin Fehrenbacher Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

2. Christian Apel Aachen Department of Dental Preservation

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dental Preservation, Parodontology and Preventive Dentistry, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Aachen, Germany

3. Daniela Bertsch

   Katholisches Klinikum Koblenz

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cardiology, Catholic Hospital Marienhof, Koblenz, Germany

4. Markus van der Giet Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

5. Simone van der Giet Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

6. Carina Gschwandtl Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

7. Nicole Maria Heussen Aachen Department of Medical Statistics

   Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Statistics, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Aachen, Germany

   Medical School, Sigmund Freud Private University, Vienna, Austria

8. Nina Hundt Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

9. Christian Kühn Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

10. Miriam Müller-Ost Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

11. M. Müller-Tarpet Aachen Department of Technical Acoustics

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Technical Acoustics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

12. S. Porath Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

13. Julia Risse Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

14. Volker Schöffl

    Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Sports Medicine-Sports Orthopaedics, Klinikum Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany

    Department of Trauma Surgery, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Medical Commission of the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland

    Medical Commission of the Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland

15. Lars Timmermann Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

16. Knut Wernitz Aachen Department of Dental Preservation

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Dental Preservation, Parodontology and Preventive Dentistry, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Aachen, Germany

17. Thomas Küpper corresponding Aachen Institute of Occupational & Social Medicine

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen Technical University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany. tkuepper@ukaachen.de

    Medical Commission of the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland. tkuepper@ukaachen.de

    Medical Commission of the Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland