NIHL Research Program- Overview€¦ · Microsoft PowerPoint - Yankaskas_kurt_feb22_NIHL.ppt [Compatibility Mode] Author: eerickson Created Date: 2/25/2013 4:05:16 PM

Noise Induced Hearing Loss ProgramMr. Kurt YankaskasOffice of Naval Research (Code 342)875 N Randolph Street, Suite 1425Arlington, VA USA [email protected]

Warfighter Performance

NIHL Research Program-Overview

Noise Induced Hearing Loss Program ONR Code 342

• Operational Environment• Trends• PPE Usage• NIHL Portfolio• Medical Aspects• Conclusion• Questions

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss


VFA-82USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)VFA-82

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)


USS Enterprise (CVN 65)


F/A-18 (VFA-82) takes the number 3 wire

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)


Slide 6VFA-82USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)

Hazardous levels of noise from many sources afloat and ashore.

3


70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180

Navy Band

Engine Rooms

USMC AAAV

Aircraft Cockpits

Carrier Decks

Single HP Required (85 dB)

Double HP Required (104 dB)

Max protection w/ double HP (115 dB)

Hazardous Noise Exposures in Navy & USMC

Noise Levels (dBA)


FY11 Cases

Ref: VBA FY2011 Annual Benefits Report 8

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss is 18%


Slide 9

• 47% Reported never wearing earplugs – 100% reported always wearing cranial with earmuffs

• 14% Reported always wearing earplugs • 7% Earplug users inserted earplugs fully in both ears

Compliance: Earplug Use / Insertion Depthby Flight Deck Crews

7%7%15%15%25%25%7%7%

75% inserted15-19 mm

16 dB attenuation


16 dB attenuation

100% inserted≥ 20 mm

22 dB attenuation

100% inserted≥ 20 mm

22 dB attenuation


6 dB attenuation


6 dB attenuation

25% inserted5-9 mm

0 dB attenuation

25% inserted5-9 mm

0 dB attenuation

47%Reported

NeverWearingEarplugs

47%Reported

NeverWearingEarplugs

Left and Right Earplug Insertions Depth [ % extrapolated from 202 ears of sometimes & always earplug users ]

79% Ears got 0 - 6 dB of noise attenuation from shallow earplug insertion or not wearing earplugs at all

V. Bjorn, NAVAIR


10

Ear Plug Performance

Match PPE to Noise Exposure

Foam Insertion Depth versus Custom Performance

Model A

Model B

Model C


Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Portfolio

Source Noise Reduction Medical Prevention & Treatment (6.1)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Incidence, Susceptibility & Evaluation

In-Ear Dosimetry

Shipboard PPE

3D Digitization for “Prescription” Ear Plugs

Shipboard noise assessment

Blast interventionsUnderwater comms &

hearing protection

Assessment tools

Hearing loss simulator

Modeling Tools

Shipboard noise path validation

11

Integrated 6.1/ 6.2/ 6.3 program

Laboratory modeling/ scale tests of jet noise reduction

Jet noise Reduction

Cell regeneration

Pharmacologic interventions and drug delivery



Source Noise Reduction

Shipboard noise assessment

Shipboard noise path validation

12

Laboratory modeling/ scale tests of jet noise reduction

Jet noise Reduction

Acoustic/ Optical Microphone Array

Untreated Space (03-92-4-L) CVN 69 Test – August 2011

Application of Acoustic Material

• Provides Accurate Visual Overlay of Measured Noise Levels

• Feeds Modeling for Targeted and Optimized Application of Acoustic Treatments to Mitigate Hazardous Noise Safety Issue

• Minimizes Weight and Cost Impacts(i.e., only treat highest noise areas)

• Laminar/Smooth Airflow = Quiet = Fuel Efficient



Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

In-Ear Dosimetry

Shipboard PPE

3D Digitization for “Prescription” Ear Plugs

Pulmonary

Underwater comms & hearing protection

13

S&T Gap/Warfighting Requirement:• Hearing loss is the largest VA benefit• Inadequate hearing protection for operational noise

levelsCurrent State-of-the-Art:• Outdated double hearing protection• Logistically burdensome process for deriving molded

earplugs• No personal dosimetryAnticipated Impact:• Reduce VA claims by at least 90%• Improved hearing protection and communications

systemsProduct/Deliverables:• Digitized 3D database of ear canals for custom

molded earplugs• Capability to measure noise exposure real-time and

provide warning systems for mandatory time outCustomers/Beneficiaries:• Warfighter mission capability and QOL• CNAF & NAVSEA• Extensions to ground operations



14

Digital Ear Canal Shape Capture toImprove Earplug Attenuation and Comfort

In‐Ear/On‐Earcup Noise Exposure Logging in

Earcup

Gen1 Noise Datalogger Worn by NAVAIR Flight Surgeon during Demonstration Trials on

theUSS Kearsarge (LHD-3)31 January - 7 February 2012 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

(CVN-69) 14-18 September 2011



15

Incidence, Susceptibility & Evaluation

Assessment tools

Hearing loss simulator

Modeling Tools

Background: • Shipboard operations are a 24/7 noise environment• Legacy PPE has limited effectiveness• Audiograms are a lagging indicator of NIHL• Ashore and forward hearing assessments involve a substantial logistical footprint, thus forward hearing conservation efforts have been limited to prescription of hearing protection that is suboptimal.

Work Effort Benefits• Longitudinal study on LCS1 Sailors; development of a personalized approach for hearing protection applications• Identification of NIHL susceptibility markers via USMC study• Development of forward-deployable hearing assessment system• Enhanced hearing-conservation training and awareness for target audiences



16

Medical Prevention & Treatment (6.1)

Cell regeneration

Blast interventions

Pharmacologic interventions and drug delivery

Research Future Highlights:• Identify Susceptibility Factors for NIHL• Genetic analysis of metabolic pathways

•Focus drug efficacy•Focus hearing conservation application

• Continued research In:•Tinnitus etiology•Nerve cell regeneration•Hair Cell regeneration via support cell differentiation

Kujawa & Liberman, 2006, 2009


Gene Chip analysis data

GenotypeAA AB BB

ControlsCases

Detection of associationsbetween SNPs and NIHL

Significant SNPs:16 previously unreported

Genetic susceptibility to NIHL

NIHL Gene Arrays may be able to identify individuals at greatest risk of sustaining hearing loss from serving in noisy environments


Merged networks

Spliceosome

Potassiumtransport

Response to unfolded protein

and ER stress

Glutathione metabolic processes

NIHL Functional Analysis


Important Links

• ONR home page– www.onr.navy.mil

• Proposal submission– www.grants.gov

• Broad Agency Announcements– www.onr.navy.mil “Home” » Contracts & Grants » Funding

Opportunities » Broad Agency Announcements

• SBIR/STTR– DoD SBIR: www.dodsbir.net– Navy SBIR: www.navysbir.com

• Naval Science and Technology Strategic Plan– www.onr.navy.mil “Home” » About ONR » Naval Science &

Technology Strategic Plan


Important Links

• ONR home page– www.onr.navy.mil

• Proposal submission– www.grants.gov

• Broad Agency Announcements– www.onr.navy.mil “Home” » Contracts & Grants » Funding

Opportunities » Broad Agency Announcements

• SBIR/STTR– DoD SBIR: www.dodsbir.net– Navy SBIR: www.navysbir.com

• Naval Science and Technology Strategic Plan– www.onr.navy.mil “Home” » About ONR » Naval Science &

Technology Strategic Plan




• Military operational/training environment will continue to be noisy

• Legacy hearing protection has operational limitations• Endurance Limits• Effective Protection Limits

• PPE: Personal Protective Equipment vice Prescriptive Hearing Protection

• US Military Services demonstrating interest in research

• Need objective measures of tinnitus• What is the impact on operational communications?

• Multi-discipline Strategy• All Services• All warfare specialties

• Future Budgets• Advocacy• Need long term plan• Communication plan• Federal budget uncertain

Summary

Documents

NIHL Research Program- Overview€¦ · Microsoft PowerPoint - Yankaskas_kurt_feb22_NIHL.ppt [Compatibility Mode] Author: eerickson Created Date: 2/25/2013 4:05:16 PM