Psychological Effects of Propeller Blades on Pilots Hearing - Report Example

The effects of Propeller blades on pilots' hearing in a long term Name Institution Date The effects of Propeller blades on pilots' hearing in a long term Introduction The environmental nature of aviation industry is generally surrounded by both the external and internal sources of noise. Pilots are usually subjected to a lot of noise in the course of their duty. High level pitched noise that emanates from the cockpit and propeller can lead to both long term and short term effects for the pilots. Since the invention of the first aircraft by the Wright Brothers, efforts have been made to reduce the intensity of the noise produced by the propeller blades to no avail. The propeller blades noise is considered to the loudest source of noise produced by aircrafts. Propeller driven aircrafts usually produce a lot of noise that may affect the pilot both physiologically and psychologically. Most research in the USA has indicated that the noise produced by the propeller blades of an aircraft is the main cause of hearing damage or eventual permanent deafness among the pilots. As a result of permanent deafness there are a lot of psychological effects associated with the damage of the hearing process in pilots. Hence there is need to come up with possible recommendations that will ensure the safety of pilots while at the same time guarding the pilots against the damage of hearing or permanent deafness by the noise produced by the propeller blades. The paper therefore aims at discussing the psychological hearing long term effects of propeller noise on the pilot and the possible recommendations that can aid in the reduction of the noise and the psychological hearing effects among the pilots. The recommendations will go a long way in ensuring the safety of the pilots and also protecting their sense of hearing and avoiding the psychological issues that come with permanent deafness (Weilgart, 2007). The effects of Propeller blades on pilots' hearing in a long term The human ear is regarded to be sensitive to a long exposure of noise that is elevated. Hence when the ear is exposed to a high pitched level of noise for a long period of time there is bound to be negative effects to the hearing process of such individuals in this case the pilots. Thus the damage risk of hearing among the pilots is correlated to the long period of exposure of such noise. According to Midema and Vos (2007), the more the pilots are exposed to the propeller noise determines the level of hearing effects. The greatest hazards in the aviation industry is the high-pitched sounds that are likely to generate both the temporary and permanent harm to the fine, hair-like cells that are found in the internal structure of the ear. The propeller blades account for about 80% of the total amount of noise produced in an aircraft. The propeller blades are considered to be the source of a high intensity level of noise. Due to the duration of time that pilots spend flying they become vulnerable to the noise produced by the propeller blades. The intensity of the noise coupled with the sensitivity of the human ear leads to impairment of the hearing process and an eventual deafness if the intensity of the noise is not checked (Weilgart, 2007). Psychologists have constantly argued that that the noise produced by the propeller blades of an aircraft pose a psychological hearing effects on a long term basis among the pilots. According to Sidney and Dekker (2013), the subjective psychological effects of the propeller blades can cause distraction, fatigue, irritability, sudden awakening and poor sleep quality and impair concentration and memory. The propeller blade noise may lead to partial deafness or total deafness after a prolonged exposure to the noise by pilots. Due to the damage of the inner structure of the ear it leads to progressive and eventual irrevocable deafness. Permanent hearing deterioration can only be detected by use of a special testing with an audiometer and the use of frequency of the human voice (Beale & Monaghan, 2004). The loss of hearing may cause a lot of trauma and other psychological effects to the pilot. The loss of hearing may also lead to speech loss. The hearing process is associated with the speech in human beings. Thus the loss of hearing may also lead to loss of speech. Due to the frequency and duration of the noise that emanates from the propeller blades that pilots are exposed to increases their vulnerability of the permanent damage to their hearing. James (2004) argues that the frequency of the noise refers to the pitch of the noise being produced while intensity refers to the loudness of the noise and duration implies the quality of the perception of the sound. Thus the potential for the hearing damage for the pilots is not only determined by the duration of the sound but also the intensity of the sound the propeller blades produce. The damage of the hearing on a long term basis or permanent deafness is a condition that pilots need to be aware of as part of their risks in their day to day course of their duties. Apart from damage to hearing or permanent deafness the propeller blade noise cause annoyance and sleep disturbance. This is also a fact that is associated with pilots. Exposure to such noise for a long period of time may lead to psychological effects and disturbance (Hatch & Wright, 2007). The type of noise and frequency of the noise produced by the propeller blade also determines the eventual psychological effects on a long term basis upon the pilot’s hearing process. Other factors that determine how the human ear will react to the propeller blade noise include the continuous nature of the sound, the tone and whether it is high or low pitched. The distance of the noise from the source to the pilot’s ear also determines the effects of the noise on the pilot. Therefore the propeller noise and frequency will greatly determine its psychological effects on the pilot. The more the propeller blades produce a high pitched noise on a daily basis the diverse the psychological effects the pilot is likely to undergo (Cusack et al., 2004). Recommendations Deterioration in hearing and a subsequent permanent deafness in pilots is always as a result of the noise from the propeller blades. Due to the fact that the pilots are not in a position to completely eliminate the propeller blade noise there are certain precautions that need to taken into account in order to ensure the pilot’s safety and psychological well-being. It is recommended by the aviation industry that there is need for pilots to guard against the damage of hearing through limiting the duration of exposure of the propeller blade noise and other noise associated with flying. In instances where an individual pilot has some level of permanent hearing loss there is need to use hearing protection gadget in order to avoid further hearing damage. The protection devices help in minimizing the noise intensity before it reaches the ear drum. The protection devices include the ear plugs, communication headsets and active noise reduction headsets. These gadgets can either be used independently or a combinations of the gadgets. The use of insertable-type ear plugs as a protection device against the effects of the propeller blade in hearing has proved over time to be popular, inexpensive, effective and contented approach. However the combination of earplugs with earmuffs or communication headsets is usually recommended. Pilots should also avoid avoidable exposure to all noise through lowering the volume of earphones or speaker whenever possible (Romero & Butler 2007). There is need for a law enforcement agency to be constituted. In the USA such an agency has been constituted in order to ensure the safety of pilots and protect them from the risks involved with the nature of their work. The main objective and aim of the enforcement agency is to oversee the type and intensity of noise produced by the propeller blades. Thus it is the duty of the agency to put measures into place that will ensure that the noise is minimized in order to avoid the effect of permanent hearing damage on the pilots. The agency is also mandated to check the frequency of the noise while at the same time put into check the duration of hours that the pilots can fly. For instance in the USA there are set minimum and maximum number of hours that pilots are required to adhere to in so far as flying is concerned. These minimum and maximum set numbers of hours ensures that the safety of pilots is preserved. Hence the law enforcement agency will go a long way in minimizing the hearing damage caused to the pilots as a result of the propeller blade noise. As aircraft technology continues to evolve over time, it is imperative that noise modeling tools continue to advance in order to handle the upcoming technology. It is also important for pilots to under psychological counseling regularly in order to prepare them for the negative situations that may arise. Since the invention of the aircraft by the Wright Brothers no permanent solution has been found in regards o the elimination of the noise produced by the propeller blades. Fernández-Juricic et al. (2004) point out that psychologists often argue that the permanent damage to the hearing process of the pilots usually comes with a lot of other psychological stress that if not checked may run out of control. Also many aspiring pilots are not aware of the fact that propeller blade noise may lead to permanent hearing damage or deafness and their perspective is that flying is a luxurious career. There is need to the aspiring pilots to undergo a counseling process that will aid in preparing them before hand for the challenges associated with the career and how to positively deal with it. Psychologists argue that the effects of propeller blades on the pilot are diverse in nature. The effect on the pilot’s hearing process requires constant counseling process to enable the pilots deal with the loss or damage to the hearing process. Psychological process and the effects of the propeller blades noise on the hearing of pilots are correlated and go hand in hand (Wright & Kuczaj, 2007). Conclusion It is evident that the noise produced by the propeller blades of an aircraft can lead to hearing impairment or eventual deafness among the pilots. Thus there is need to protect the pilots against such situations. The impairment of the hearing process in most cases is usually accompanied by lots of psychological issues that the pilots need to deal with. However all is not lost in the aviation industry as there are certain recommendations that if implemented would aid in decreasing the chances of pilot losing their hearing process or eventual deafness. Psychologists have often argued that there is need for pilots to be made aware of the dangers they are exposing themselves and how such dangers can be avoided. They have often argued that awareness and counseling of the pilots proves to be fruitful. Such process should be undertaken on both the pilots that have experienced the damage of the hearing and those who have not. Furthermore there is need for more research to be conducted that will find recommendations for the reduction of the propeller blade noise that has proved to be the main cause of permanent deafness among the pilots. References Cusack R., Deeks J., Aikman G., & Carlyon R. P. (2004). Effects of Location, Frequency Region, and Time Course of Selective Attention on Auditory Scene Analysis. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, Vol. 30, No. 4, 643–656 Weilgart, L. S. (2007). A brief review of known effects of noise on marine mammals. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, this issue, 159-168 Fernández-Juricic, E., Sallent, A., Sanz, R. & Rodríguez-Prieto, I. (2003). Testing the risk-disturbance hypothesis in a fragmented landscape: Nonlinear responses of house sparrows to humans. The Condor, 105, 316-326. Beale, C. M. & Monaghan, P. (2004). Behavioural responses to human disturbance: A Matter of choice? Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 68, 1065-1069. Wright A. J. & Kuczaj S. (2007). Noise-Related Stress and Marine Mammals: An Introduction. International Journal of Comparative Psychology. Retrieved from Sidney W. A. Dekker. (2013). Human Factors in Aviation - A natural history. Retrieved October 6, 2013 from Hatch, L. & Wright, A. J. (2007). A brief review of anthropogenic sound in the oceans. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, this issue, 121-133. Romero, L. M. & Butler, L. K. (2007). Endocrinology of Stress. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, this issue, 89-95. James, S. (2004). Defining the Cockpit Noise Hazard, Aircrew Hearing Damage Risk and the Benefits Active Noise Reduction Headsets Can Provide. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 12 (5) 56-69. Midema, H. M. E. & Vos, H. (2007). Associations between self-reported sleep disturbances and environmental noise based on re-analyses of pooled data from 24 studies. Journal of Applied Psychology: Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 5(1), 1-20. Read More

The paper therefore aims at discussing the psychological hearing long term effects of propeller noise on the pilot and the possible recommendations that can aid in the reduction of the noise and the psychological hearing effects among the pilots. The recommendations will go a long way in ensuring the safety of the pilots and also protecting their sense of hearing and avoiding the psychological issues that come with permanent deafness (Weilgart, 2007). The effects of Propeller blades on pilots' hearing in a long term The human ear is regarded to be sensitive to a long exposure of noise that is elevated.

Hence when the ear is exposed to a high pitched level of noise for a long period of time there is bound to be negative effects to the hearing process of such individuals in this case the pilots. Thus the damage risk of hearing among the pilots is correlated to the long period of exposure of such noise. According to Midema and Vos (2007), the more the pilots are exposed to the propeller noise determines the level of hearing effects. The greatest hazards in the aviation industry is the high-pitched sounds that are likely to generate both the temporary and permanent harm to the fine, hair-like cells that are found in the internal structure of the ear.

The propeller blades account for about 80% of the total amount of noise produced in an aircraft. The propeller blades are considered to be the source of a high intensity level of noise. Due to the duration of time that pilots spend flying they become vulnerable to the noise produced by the propeller blades. The intensity of the noise coupled with the sensitivity of the human ear leads to impairment of the hearing process and an eventual deafness if the intensity of the noise is not checked (Weilgart, 2007).

Psychologists have constantly argued that that the noise produced by the propeller blades of an aircraft pose a psychological hearing effects on a long term basis among the pilots. According to Sidney and Dekker (2013), the subjective psychological effects of the propeller blades can cause distraction, fatigue, irritability, sudden awakening and poor sleep quality and impair concentration and memory. The propeller blade noise may lead to partial deafness or total deafness after a prolonged exposure to the noise by pilots.

Due to the damage of the inner structure of the ear it leads to progressive and eventual irrevocable deafness. Permanent hearing deterioration can only be detected by use of a special testing with an audiometer and the use of frequency of the human voice (Beale & Monaghan, 2004). The loss of hearing may cause a lot of trauma and other psychological effects to the pilot. The loss of hearing may also lead to speech loss. The hearing process is associated with the speech in human beings. Thus the loss of hearing may also lead to loss of speech.

Due to the frequency and duration of the noise that emanates from the propeller blades that pilots are exposed to increases their vulnerability of the permanent damage to their hearing. James (2004) argues that the frequency of the noise refers to the pitch of the noise being produced while intensity refers to the loudness of the noise and duration implies the quality of the perception of the sound. Thus the potential for the hearing damage for the pilots is not only determined by the duration of the sound but also the intensity of the sound the propeller blades produce.

The damage of the hearing on a long term basis or permanent deafness is a condition that pilots need to be aware of as part of their risks in their day to day course of their duties. Apart from damage to hearing or permanent deafness the propeller blade noise cause annoyance and sleep disturbance. This is also a fact that is associated with pilots. Exposure to such noise for a long period of time may lead to psychological effects and disturbance (Hatch & Wright, 2007). The type of noise and frequency of the noise produced by the propeller blade also determines the eventual psychological effects on a long term basis upon the pilot’s hearing process.

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