Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan.
School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County 302056, Taiwan.
Comput Methods Programs Biomed. 2022 Nov;226:107179. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.107179. Epub 2022 Oct 12.
Noise is a common occupational and environmental hazard; however, little is known about the use of computational tools to quantitively analyze data on basilar membrane (BM) damage in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Here, we established a comprehensive three-dimensional finite-element human ear model to quantify the impact of noise exposure on BM and perilymph fluid.
We used auditory risk units (ARUs) to evaluate the BM damage for subjects (3 men and 5 women; mean age, 32.75 ± 8.86 years; age range, 24-44 years). A 90-dB sound pressure level (SPL) was normally applied at the external auditory canal (EAC) entrance to simulate sound transmission from the EAC to the cochlea at frequencies of 0.2-10.0 kHz.
The pressure distribution of perilymph fluid is totally different on frequency responses under low and high sound-evoked (0.013-10.0 kHz). The highest ARUs were 18.479% at the distance of 1 mm from the base, and the second-highest to fourth-highest ARUs occurred at distances of 5-7 mm from the base, where their ARUs were 9.749%, 9.176%, and 11.231%. The total of the ARUs reached 81.956% at external frequencies' sounds of 3.2-5.0 kHz. Among these, the 3.8-kHz and 3.6-kHz frequencies yielded the highest and second-highest ARUs of 20.325% and 19.873%, respectively.
This study would inform our understanding of NIHL associated with occupational noise exposure. We present a FE modelling and describe how it might provide a unique way to unravel mechanisms that drive NIHL due to loud noises.
噪声是一种常见的职业和环境危害；然而，对于使用计算工具定量分析噪声性听力损失（NIHL）中基底膜（BM）损伤的数据，我们知之甚少。在这里，我们建立了一个全面的三维有限元人耳模型，以定量评估噪声暴露对 BM 和外淋巴液的影响。
我们使用听觉危险单位（ARU）来评估 BM 损伤，研究对象为 3 名男性和 5 名女性（平均年龄 32.75±8.86 岁；年龄范围 24-44 岁）。通常在外耳道（EAC）入口处施加 90dB 的声压级（SPL），以模拟从 EAC 到耳蜗的声音传输，频率为 0.2-10.0kHz。
在外源性声音刺激（0.013-10.0kHz）下，低频和高频响应的外淋巴液压力分布完全不同。基底 1mm 处的 ARU 最高值为 18.479%，其次至第四高的 ARU 分别出现在基底 5-7mm 处，其 ARU 值分别为 9.749%、9.176%和 11.231%。外频声音（3.2-5.0kHz）的 ARU 总数达到 81.956%。其中，3.8kHz 和 3.6kHz 频率产生的 ARU 最高和第二高，分别为 20.325%和 19.873%。
本研究将有助于我们了解与职业性噪声暴露相关的 NIHL。我们提出了一种 FE 建模，并描述了它如何为揭示由于强噪声导致 NIHL 的机制提供一种独特的方法。
