A field study of the performance of circumaural hearing protectors by dosimetry

Abstract

The performance of earmuffs in the actual working environment was studied with two dosimeters which had been modified so that the 1/4 in. microphone connecting to the dosimeter could be placed inside an earmuff with negligible noise leakage. It was found that personal hearing protection, at least with earmuffs, is a potentially adequate method of protection against noise-induced hearing loss in most industrial working situations. Most of the problems involving the use of hearing protectors in a hearing conservation program can be overcome by education and proper fitting.