ENDEAVOUR ENGINE-ROOM MAKING RATINGS DEAF

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31585, 24 January 1968, Page 1

ENDEAVOUR ENGINE-ROOM MAKING RATINGS DEAF

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, January 23. A high proportion of engine-room ratings in the H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour had a permanent hearing loss—in some cases already impairing their ability to hear conversation, an Auckland surgeon found in a seven-week survey.

Mr N. Roydhouse, senior ear, nose and throat surgeon at Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, reports his findings from a cruise with the Antarctic supply ship in the latest issue of the “New Zealand Medical Journal.”

As the Navy required a higher standard of hearing than the other armed services it was important that engine room noises should be investigated and steps taken if necessary to reduce the noise, wrote Mr Roydhouse. “To reduce the effect of the noise on the person and the hearing as is the case in many modern diesel-engined ships—a sound-treated control should be provided,” he said. “When a person is required to leave the control room for periodic inspections of the engines or to make repairs,

then he should be made to wear ear muffs.” ' ' Mr Roydhouse said there was an undoubted noise hazard in the engine room of the Endeavour. In one region the noise levels reached at least 120 decibels.

It was possible for some persons to be exposed for many hours a day to a very loud noise (at least 95 decibels) for several years without necessarily suffering much damage to the function of hearing. But there was no doubt that exposure to loud noises, especially when repeated, entailed a definite risk of temporary, and even permanent deafness. Under 40 It was not uncommon for ratings to do an eight-hour duty exposed to noise levels up to 120 decibels. These ratings were all under 40 and

already some were aware of deafness: they found that under certain circumstances they had difficulty in hearing conversation. “Others do not as yet have difficulty in hearing but will be in this position if their

hearing loss continues. By the time they reach 50 years and add the loss of aging to their already present disability they will find that even a hearing aid will not help them much,” said Mr Roydhouse.