Effects of Earplugs and Protective Headgear on Auditory Localization Ability in the Horizontal Plane

Vause, Nancy L.; Grantham, D. Wesley

doi:10.1518/001872099779591213

Cited by 30 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The results from studies of sound localization with hearing protectors have been consistent with expectations from the known disruption of the physical cues [2] [15]. For example, Vause and Grantham [136] showed a large increase in front-back confusions in the horizontal plane with plugs and a Kevlar helmet used together (relative to no device), while errors in the frontal direction were only slightly increased. The authors attributed the increase in front/back errors to the loss of high-frequency spectral cues while using the devices.…”

Section: Hearing Protectorssupporting

confidence: 67%

“…This helmet extends over the ears but does not occlude them, and so does not provide any hearing protection. Subjects localized sounds roughly equally well while using the helmet as when bare-headed, both in the frontal and lateral directions [136].…”

Section: Non-auditory Protective Headgearmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Vause and Grantham's study [136] of sound localization included a condition in which subjects wore a Kevlar helmet, which is currently used in the Army. This helmet extends over the ears but does not occlude them, and so does not provide any hearing protection.…”

Section: Non-auditory Protective Headgearmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Concept and Technology Exploration for Transparent Hearing

Chapin¹,

Zurek²,

Shinn‐Cunningham³

et al. 2003

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The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data so.1rces gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collectiof of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Department of Defense, Executive Services and Communications Directorate (0704-0188). Respondents should b4 aware that notwithstanding any other provision of Law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for falling to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently velic OMB control number. orifices, including the ears, to achieve minimal protection. Additionally, warfighting involves operating in very close proximity to loud equipment, from which the noise can degrade an individual's auditory perception, and over time can degrade general performance. Common hearing protection and occlusion isolates the warfighter from the environment, deflating situational awareness, confidence, and effectiveness, thus putting the warfighter at high risk and compromising his ability to detect and assesm threats. Often, soldiers are so uncomfortable with the isolation of hearing protection that they will choose to go without hearing protection and expose themselves to painful and harmful noise, which can result in deafness and reduced effectiveness as warfighters. This effort includes a survey of relevant head-borne hear-through auditory systems, a selection of approaches to a transparent hearing solution, implementation of the approaches, and evaluation. PLEASE DO NOT

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Section: Hearing Protectorssupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: Non-auditory Protective Headgearmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Concept and Technology Exploration for Transparent Hearing

Chapin¹,

Zurek²,

Shinn‐Cunningham³

et al. 2003

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“…Obviously, the skier's ability to localize the direction of the sound may be a very useful tool for that purpose. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, there is no single study in skiing science literature dealing with that problem, even though it has previously been identified in military medicine [14][15][16]. When the sophisticated kevlar protective army helmet is worn, it might diminish the auditory localization ability [16].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of ski helmets on sound perception and sound localisation on the ski slope

Ružić

Tudor

Radman

et al. 2015

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

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Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate whether a ski helmet interferes with the sound localization and the time of sound perception in the frontal plane. Material and Methods: Twenty-three participants (age 30.7±10.2) were tested on the slope in 2 conditions, with and without wearing the ski helmet, by 6 different spatially distributed sound stimuli per each condition. Each of the subjects had to react when hearing the sound as soon as possible and to signalize the correct side of the sound arrival. Results: The results showed a significant difference in the ability to localize the specific ski sounds; 72.5±15.6% of correct answers without a helmet vs. 61.3±16.2% with a helmet (p < 0.01). However, the performance on this test did not depend on whether they were used to wearing a helmet (p = 0.89). In identifying the timing, at which the sound was firstly perceived, the results were also in favor of the subjects not wearing a helmet. The subjects reported hearing the ski sound clues at 73.4±5.56 m without a helmet vs. 60.29±6.34 m with a helmet (p < 0.001). In that case the results did depend on previously used helmets (p < 0.05), meaning that that regular usage of helmets might help to diminish the attenuation of the sound identification that occurs because of the helmets. Conclusions: Ski helmets might limit the ability of a skier to localize the direction of the sounds of danger and might interfere with the moment, in which the sound is firstly heard.

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“…It is also valuable to investigate whether ordinary equipment influences sound localization. Sound localization performance has been examined when various equipment was worn, including earmuffs and headgear [4][5][6]. It is clear, therefore, that external ears play an important role in sound localization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sound localization under conditions of covered ears on the horizontal plane

Takimoto

Nishino

Itou

et al. 2007

Acoust. Sci. & Tech.

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In this paper, we examine how covering one or both external ears affects sound localization on the horizontal plane. In our experiments, we covered subjects' pinnae and external auditory canals with headphones, earphones, and earplugs, and conducted sound localization tests. Stimuli were presented from 12 different directions, and 12 subjects participated in the sound localization tests. The results indicate that covering one or both ears decreased their sound localization performance. Front-back confusion rates increased, particularly when covering both outer ears with open-air headphones or covering one ear with an intraconcha-type earphone or an earplug. Furthermore, incorrect answer rates were high when the sound source and the occluded ear that had an intraconcha-type earphone or an earplug were on the same side. We consider that the factors that cause poor performance can be clarified by comparing these results with characteristics of head-related transfer function.

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Effects of Earplugs and Protective Headgear on Auditory Localization Ability in the Horizontal Plane

Cited by 30 publications

References 16 publications

Concept and Technology Exploration for Transparent Hearing

Concept and Technology Exploration for Transparent Hearing

The influence of ski helmets on sound perception and sound localisation on the ski slope

Sound localization under conditions of covered ears on the horizontal plane

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