A critical review of the literature on comfort of hearing protection devices: analysis of the comfort measurement variability

Abstract

Considering the current state of knowledge and in order to decrease comfort measurements variability, it is advised to (i) use a multidimensional construct of comfort and derive a comfort index for each comfort dimensions, (ii) use exhaustive and valid questionnaires, (iii) quantify as much as triad characteristics as possible and use them as independent or control variables, and (iv) assess the quality of the earplug fitting and the attenuation efficiency.

Towards a Holistic Model Explaining Hearing Protection Device Use among Workers

“…In fact, the most common barriers influencing HPD use are also found to be the main discomfort features associated with HPD use [61]. They can then be influenced by characteristics of the environment, the worker (user) and the HPD itself, all together constituting the triad "environment/person/HPD" [65].…”

“…This hinders the combination and analysis of data from different studies and thus the proposal of general outcomes on HPD comfort for research, engineering and occupational health practice [61]. Secondly, comfort can be influenced by multiple characteristics of the triad "environment/person/HPD" and be defined by complex interactions between its components [65]. However, an exhaustive list and understanding of all factors affecting (dis)comfort, their relative contribution and influence on HPD use is still missing.…”

“…However, an exhaustive list and understanding of all factors affecting (dis)comfort, their relative contribution and influence on HPD use is still missing. Thirdly, the strength of some comfort-related barriers may decrease over a given period of time, referred to as mid-term habituation [65]. This acclimatization time has been observed for both physical and acoustical discomfort attributes and would range from days to months [65].…”

“…Thirdly, the strength of some comfort-related barriers may decrease over a given period of time, referred to as mid-term habituation [65]. This acclimatization time has been observed for both physical and acoustical discomfort attributes and would range from days to months [65]. In any case, the user needs to persist in the behavior to experience such a relief.…”

Towards a practical methodology for assessment of the objective occlusion effect induced by earplugs

“…This can lead to dislike of one's own voice (Berger, 1986;Kiessling et al, 2005;Kuk et al, 2005;Suter, 2002) or even cause an inhibition to speak (Eriksson-Mangold and Erlandsson, 1984). For example, the experienced acoustical discomfort related to the OE strongly participates to the feeling of overall (dis)comfort induced by earplugs situations (Terroir et al, 2021) and thus should be reduced to avoid the in-ear device non-use or misuse, which can be critical for the wearers (Doutres et al, 2019(Doutres et al, , 2020. Historically, a baseline method to assess the OE has been done through bone conduction (BC) audiometry by measuring hearing thresholds with and without an occlusion device (Berger and Kerivan, 1983;Goldstein and Hayes, 1965;Huizing, 1960;Reinfeldt et al, 2013;Stenfelt and Reinfeldt, 2007).…”