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-   -   Fast jet noise affects kids learning abilities (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/551931-fast-jet-noise-affects-kids-learning-abilities.html)

tartare 26th Nov 2014 20:10

Fast jet noise affects kids learning abilities
 
Now Health and Safety really has reached absurd levels.
No military power settings over the childcare centres please.
Bloody hell, if they'd been around when I was a nipper, you wouldn't have been able to get me inside to have my glass of milk!
They're kids on a military base for God's sake.
What is the world coming to...


Defence at RAAF bases Amberley, Darwin and Williamtown have shifted their Workplace Health and Safety priorities from pilots to preschoolers as emerging research suggests children may be more sensitive to aircraft noise than adults.

The research prompted the Australian Defence Force to initiate specialised noise assessments at childcare centres on these bases in order to collect data for audiology experts to make a better assessment of the childcare locations.

Group Captain Richard Lennon said although the ADF continually maintains noise and flight path monitoring programs, assessments were only adjusted for the concerned children just recently.

"We conducted a number of noise assessments at childcare bases where we have fast jets such as Amberley," Group Captain Lennon said.

"The idea is to measure the total noise around the childcare centre, including the children themselves, who are a significant source of noise, in order to be able to minimise the effects of overall noise exposure.

"What we've found so far is that while noise levels are lower than the acceptable national standard, that is only established for adults and it's still unclear what it is for children, as emerging research remains inconclusive."

As defined by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, the acceptable limit for ongoing noise exposure is 85 decibels, while the peak noise for an instantaneous event such as a fast jet is 140 decibels.

While long-term exposure to this kind of excessive, instantaneous noise primarily leads to noise-induced hearing loss in adults, there may be other underlying dangers for children.

"Children may not suffer hearing loss at the levels of noise exposure prescribed for adults, but they could have other cognitive difficulties and learning difficulties related to being distracted or disrupted by the noise," Group Captain Lennon said.

According to Group Captain Lennon, all parents of children in the base childcare have been made aware of the noise assessment and have expressed no concerns, either with the assessment, or their child's health and wellbeing.

"We've never received any reports or concerns of children suffering hearing loss or learning or cognitive difficulties," Group Captain Lennon said.

"The advisory we received, which is based on emerging research, says the risk is very small. This is just a precaution to make sure we are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of the children and their learning environment."

Defence already implements a 'Fly Neighbourly' policy to guide air crews to train and operate safely while reducing the impact of noise on the general community, while the childcare centres have already begun countering noise exposure with simple adjustments.

"We're already finding it's simple to schedule the children's outdoor playtime for periods that are relatively quiet during the day," Group Captain Lennon said.

"Childcare staff have also found that if they play background music in the centre, especially during rest time, there's less distraction and a more consistent noise environment for the children to live in."

Herod 26th Nov 2014 20:22


Fast jet noise affects kids learning abilities
Yep, it makes them want to become fast-jet pilots. :) At least it did with me. Never made fast-jets, but had a long flying career; wouldn't have missed it for the world.

treadigraph 26th Nov 2014 20:28

Yep, used to disturb my concentration every time Mr Farley and his colleagues flew past my school, testing Harriers and Hawks from Dunsfold. Never could resist peering out of the window to the huge ire of my maths teachers. Still don't understand algebra...

:ok:

SHornet 26th Nov 2014 20:38

The sound of a fast-jet in full military power is just wonderful. Kids need to hear it more, not less.

Union Jack 26th Nov 2014 20:44

The sound of a fast-jet in full military power is just wonderful. Kids need to hear it more, not less. - SHornet

Miss! Miss! Please, Miss! My dad says it's the sound of freedom!:D

Jack

Dan Gerous 26th Nov 2014 21:05

Is there any truth in the story that when 43 finished a Bolthole to Kinloss in 78/79, they let all the schools away early,(lunchtime). Rumour was they were going to beat the sh1t out off the airfield on departure.

NutLoose 26th Nov 2014 21:07

Where did they do the survey, Syria? the Ukraine?

chopper2004 26th Nov 2014 21:08

ADF has more problems..........
 
Ummmm the ADF has more immediate problems

Defence Abuse Response Taskforce exposes horrific accounts of abuse | News.com.au

On a lighter note what is the sign outside Cherry Point and Lakenheath both say "Pardon the Noise, it is the Sound of Freedom"

Cheers

tartare 26th Nov 2014 21:12

Shornet - could not agree more.
My favourite - the Hunter and its blue note - pukka fast jet noise.
Only to be eclipsed by the first time one hears the deep booming roar of a Merlin, and then realises why people love the Spitfire so much.
The sound of full military jet power is the sort of thing that makes a huge impression on a young kid.
Raw power - marvellous stuff.

langleybaston 26th Nov 2014 21:31

Certainly does affect the nippers.

RAF Guetersloh two of Hunter squadrons, two of Lightning, one of choppers ......my four cowering in Zeppelin Strasse:

1. Maths Leeds 2.1 now Head of Maths

2. Supermarket manager

3. ex-Met Police Equitation Instructor, retired

4. Health visitor, two of BSc 2.1, RGN, RHV.

Just think how they might have turned out without that nasty noise.

Willard Whyte 26th Nov 2014 23:00

I'd rather my children designed the things than flew them.

oldpax 26th Nov 2014 23:00

Noise
 
I grew up near RAF Acklington ,not just merlins but goblins and ghosts!!Could always tell the difference !No child care centres then only schools!!

Kluseau 27th Nov 2014 08:32

Hm... I was, according to family folklore, nearly dropped by the midwife in the nursing home at Coltishall when a Javelin, with, allegedly, my late father in the back seat, flew over low. Spent much of the next 18 years subjected to fast jet noise in places as diverse as Tengah, Watton (OK, slow jet noise), Binbrook and Gutersloh, and never felt adversely affected by the experience.

Sandy Parts 27th Nov 2014 09:15

Guess all those years at Kent School, BFES Germany mean I must be due compensation. Luckily I struggled through and managed to even sign for a jet eventually. Some days I think we should have full control of 'research' and direct it to useful purposes - especially if occurring in a taxpayer funded university.

CoodaShooda 27th Nov 2014 10:52

Sounds like someone's angling for funding to keep employed for a few more years. He can answer his question about the effect on young children by checking RAAF publications.

CoodaKid3 (now Pilot Officer RAAF) was used as a pin-up boy by Defence Recruiting a couple of years back.

He was quoted as saying that he decided to become an airforce pilot at the age of 6, while sitting at the end of 11/29 Darwin with dad, watching the jets participating in Pitch Black take-off and land over his head.

Said jets would have included B-52, F-111, F-15, F-16, F/A-18, Harrier, Mirage 2000, Jaguar and KC-135. Plenty of close range jet noise to chose from and it doesn't appear to have affected his development.

(Of course the little bugger didn't tell his dad at the time. I had to read about it in the newspaper 15 years later.)

5aday 27th Nov 2014 11:52

Acklington, Middleton, Stradishall, Waterbeach, Waddington, Gutersloh, Waddington again (well N. Hykeham really). Totally screwed up my education - all I could think of was jets and more jets. Imagine 8 Javelins OR 12 Venoms joining over Waterbeach villageCounty Primary School. I never had a chance.
Anyone who could quote poetry or Words(worth) was a cissy.

Sun Who 27th Nov 2014 20:38


I'd rather my children designed the things than flew them.
I'd rather my kids designed and flew them, but that might be asking a bit much.:)

Sun

Sleeve Wing 27th Nov 2014 20:54

I was already hooked and into the diesel control-line model building by 2nd. year at grammar school.
Regular as clockwork - Harvards - very low level - southbound down the railway line.
My chosen seat near the window nearly ruined my prospects of a decent Latin 'O' Level!
Latin mistress complained I was "plane-crazy" !!

"Got me an FJ job though, Miss." :ok: :cool:

Willard Whyte 27th Nov 2014 21:06


I'd rather my kids designed and flew them, but that might be asking a bit much.
Some of my kid's designs... hmm...

Tankertrashnav 27th Nov 2014 22:05


Miss! Miss! Please, Miss! My dad says it's the sound of freedom!
Johnny, do tell your dad to avoid worn out cliches :*

That said, regular overflights by Vulcan 588 would certainly liven up boring lessons!


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