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Biomedical subjects

J Binnington

Publications and source records attributed to J Binnington.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Hearing loss and motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists are known to be exposed to excessive wind noise levels when riding. The potential adverse effects of this exposure on their hearing was investigated. Temporary threshold shift (TTS) was assessed by asking 18 riders to undertake a standard test run of one hour at a steady 80 mph, and performing audiometry before and immediately afterwards. Permanent threshold shift (PTS) was assessed by performing pure-tone audiograms on a highly screened group of 246 motorcyclists and comparing their hearing thresholds with those of an appropriate control group obtained from the MRC National Study of Hearing. Significant TTS was found at 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz. The greatest TTS occurred at 1 kHz, with a mean hearing loss of 10.3 dB. The hearing thresholds of the motorcyclists were significantly worse than the controls at 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz, and was most marked at 0.5 and 1 kHz where their hearing loss (PTS) was, respectively, 3.7 and 3.6 dB greater than expected. These findings demonstrate evidence of both temporary and permanent hearing loss from motorcycling and present a strong argument for the need for some form of remedial action.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Two solutions to the problem of noise exposure for motorcyclists.

Two solutions to the problem of excessive noise exposure and consequent hearing loss in motorcyclists were investigated and are described. One was an antecedent behaviour-modifying 'prompting' strategy, where a set of earplugs and an advice sheet were provided at the point of sale to consecutive purchasers of new motorcycle crash helmets. Forty-eight riders were recruited but data for analysis were only available in 41. The earplug usage rate was significantly increased from 27% to 83% by this intervention. The second solution involves various aerodynamics and sound-proofing helmet modifications made in an effort to reduce interior noise levels. The only modification which achieved a significant reduction from previously reported average sound levels was the incorporation of a pair of 'standard' earmuffs under the helmet shell. This gave noise levels of 84 dB(A) at 22 m/s (50 mph) and 93 dB(A) at 36 m/s (80 mph), compared to known average values of 95 dB(A) and 107 dB(A), respectively. Both solutions are eminently feasible and desirable, and we hope that the motorcycle industry will act on them.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Hearing loss in Grand Prix motorcyclists: occupational hazard or sports injury?

The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in current motorcycle grand prix racers was investigated. A total of 44 riders was randomly recruited and underwent interview, otological examination and pure tone audiometry. The median age was 28 (range 18-37) years and median racing experience was 10 (range 2-21) years. Twenty riders (45%) had hearing losses greater than expected for age matched controls. Not surprisingly this hearing deficit tended to increase with racing experience (r = 0.5, t = 2.51, 19 d.f., P < 0.05). Only 17 riders (39%) were regular users of earplugs and only nine had used them for most of their racing careers. There is a need to raise awareness to this problem and increase the use of earplugs to avoid NIHL in grand prix motorcyclists.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed1993

Hearing protection for motorcyclists.

An investigation to ascertain the most suitable earplug and its efficacy for use by motorcyclists was undertaken. To qualify for testing the earplugs had to be both easily available and cost less than 10 Pounds. Consequently, three types of earplugs ('Silisoft', EARfit and AQUAfit [both Cabot Safety Ltd]) were tested for sound attenuation scores using an 'insertion loss' technique both with and without a motorcycle helmet and scored for comfort by the test subjects. The optimal plug was then assessed as to its effect on the temporary threshold shift occurring in motorcyclists after prolonged high speed riding. There were no significant differences between the sound attenuation scores of the three plugs tested, with all three earplugs providing approximately 15 dB of sound attenuation at the low frequencies (250, 500, 1000 Hz) when worn under a helmet. The soft yellow foam earplug was felt to be the optimal plug for motorcyclists as it was significantly more comfortable (Wilcoxon paired: P < 0.01), readily available (chi 2 = 15.2, P < 0.001) and the cheapest. After one hour of high speed riding (80 mph), riders suffered a mean maximal temporary threshold shift of 11 dB at 1000 Hz which was abolished by wearing these earplugs. Earplugs appear to provide useful protection against the excessive noise levels experienced by motorcyclists. The soft yellow foam plug (EARfit, Cabot Safety Ltd) would appear to be the most suitable, on the grounds of its low cost, comfort and ease of availability.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The effect of spatial parameters on oscillatory movement displacement thresholds.

Earlier work has established that oscillatory movement displacement thresholds (OMDT) are a form of hyperacuity. There is speculation that the mechanism determining OMDT, like motion perception in general, involves direct motion sensing at high temporal frequencies of oscillation and spatial localization processes (from which motion is inferred) at low temporal frequencies, which are both hyperacuities in their own right. OMDT were determined, for three experienced observers, over the temporal frequency range 1-15 Hz, for three stimulus lengths and three stimulus widths. Both decreasing stimulus length and decreasing stimulus width increased OMDT at all temporal frequencies. Furthermore, the resulting functions consistently exhibit a "kink" in the temporal frequency midrange. The results are interpreted as evidence that there are two subsystems involved in the analysis of visual motion with the kink indicating the transition where one system begins to predominate over the other.

Humans↗