Relationship between comfort and attenuation measurements for two types of earplugs

Byrne, David C.; Davis, Roger T.; Shaw, Peter; Specht, Burgundy M; Holland, Amy N

doi:10.4103/1463-1741.77193

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The survey on music-listening experience with hearing protectors started with 11 questions about general satisfaction, portability, design, and sound experience. The survey was based on existing surveys[ 11 18 ] and reviewed by international experts on sound quality. Questions were to be completed on a forced-choice four-point scale (totally agree, agree, disagree, and totally disagree).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Musician earplugs: Appreciation and protection

2015

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Recreational music exposure is a potential risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Augmented hearing protectors have been designed with modified attenuation characteristics to combine hearing protection and listening comfort. However, to date, only a few independent studies have assessed the performance of those augmented protectors in realistic exposure conditions. This study compares the listening experience and temporary effects on cochlear status with different types of earplugs after exposure to contemporary club music. Five different types of commercially available hearing protectors were worn, all commonly used during leisure-time music exposure. Four of them were augmented premolded earplugs and the fifth type was an inexpensive, standard earplug frequently distributed for free at music events. During five different test sessions of 30 min each, participants not professionally involved in music wore one particular type of protector. Contemporary club music was played at sound pressure levels (SPLs) representative of concerts and bars. After each listening session, a questionnaire on sound quality and general appreciation was completed. In addition, otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) were measured directly before and after music exposure. The reported appreciation clearly differed depending on the addressed characteristics and the specific earplug type. In this test group, the reported appreciation mainly depended on comfort and looks, while differences in sound quality were less noticeable. The changes in OAE amplitude before and after noise exposure were small in terms of clinical standards. Nevertheless, the observed temporary shifts differed systematically for the different types of hearing protectors, with two types of musician earplug showing a more systematic decline than the others. Further research with respect to actual use and achieved protection for real, unsupervised music exposure is warranted.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Musician earplugs: Appreciation and protection

2015

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“…In the literature dedicated to HPD, the word "comfort" is generally employed to designate all aspects related to the mechanical contact between the HPD and the outer ear for earplugs or the circumaural and pinna for earmuffs (called "touch related non-acoustical" aspects in (Bockstael et al 2012)) leading to physical sensations which may prevent a correct and consistent HPD use (Abel 2008;Behar and Desormeaux 1986;Behar and Jackson 1987;Bhattacharya, Tripathi, and Kashyap 1993;Bockstael, De Bruyne, and Vinck 2011;Bockstael, Keppler, and Botteldooren 2015;Broughton 1995;Byrne et al 2011;Canetto 2009;Casali et al 1987;Damongeot 1977;Damongeot et al 1982;Du, Homma, and Saunders 2008;Edelson et al 2009;Epps and Casali 1985;Flugrath and Tuberville 1972;Grenell 1988;Groenewold et al 2014;Ivergård and McK. Nicholl 1976;Ivarsson, Toremalm, and Brühl 1990;Kusy 1991;Kusy 1996;Mauney and Casali 1990;Melamed et al 1996;Morata et al 2001;Mozo, Murphy, and Ribera 1995;Park and Casali 1991;Patel et al 2001;Samelli et al 2018;Smith, Monaco, and Lusk 2014;Spomer et al 2017;M.…”

Section: Concepts and Constructs Found In The Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

A critical review of the literature on comfort of hearing protection devices: definition of comfort and identification of its main attributes for earplug types

Doutres

Sgard

Terroir

et al. 2019

International Journal of Audiology

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Objective: This paper presents a comprehensive literature review of past works addressing Hearing Protection Devices (HPD) comfort and to put them into perspective regarding a proposed holistic multidimensional construct of HPD comfort. Design: Literature review. Study samples: Documents were hand searched and Internet searched using "PubMed", "Web of Science", "Google Scholar", "ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Professional", "Scopus" or "Google" search engines. While comfort constructs and measurement methods are reviewed for both earplugs and earmuff types, results and analyses are provided for the earplug type only. Results: This paper proposed a multidimensional construct of HPD comfort based on four dimensions: physical, functional, acoustical and psychological. Seen through the prism of the proposed holistic construct of HPD comfort, the main comfort attributes of earplugs have been identified for each comfort dimension. Conclusions: The observed lack of consensus on the definition of HPD comfort in the scientific community makes it difficult to prioritize the importance of comfort attributes yet necessary for future design of comfortable earplugs.

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“…Even though noise attenuation should be considered as a main factor, it should not be ignored that 90 % of occupational noise exposures are at a level less than 95 dB (A). As a result, hearing protectors with a lower weight and more comfort will be worn consistently and effectively ( Byrne et al, 2011 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustic Performance of 3D Printed Nanocomposite Earmuff

Ahmadi¹,

Nassiri²,

Ghasemi³

et al. 2015

GJHS

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Introduction:Hearing protection devices are one of the primary noise reduction tools in developing countries. This study is intended to produce and apply acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/clay nanocomposites to fabricate a laboratory single cup earmuffs and then compare it with double cup and single cup pure ABS earmuffs in terms of noise attenuation performance and comfort. In addition, the noise attenuation performance of single cup pure ABS earmuffs is compared with double cup pure ABS earmuffs.Methods:ABS/nanoclay filament was fabricated using a twin screw extruder. A three dimensional (3D) printing machine and a 3D model of earcup, designed by solid work software, were applied to print single and double cup earmuffs using ABS/nanoclay composite and pure ABS filaments. Finally, using an acoustic test fixture, objective noise attenuation test was performed on three different types of earmuffs, including with and without nano material and a secondary cup. Moreover, earmuffs weight was measured as a comfort component.Results:Insertion loss and calculated noise reduction rating (NRR) of single cup ABS/nanoclay earmuffs (NRR=19.4 dB) and double cup pure ABS earmuffs (NRR=18.93 dB) were improved in comparison with single cup pure ABS earmuffs (NRR=15.7 dB). Additionally, both single cup earmuffs were significantly lighter than double cup earmuffs. Although single cup nano and double cup earmuffs had nearly the same attenuation performance, single cup nano earmuffs were 74 gr lighter than double cup earmuffs, so with reference to comfort, single cup nano earmuffs will probably be more acceptable.Conclusions:From this survey it might be concluded that, even though single cup ABS/nanoclay earmuffs was lighter than double cup pure ABS earmuffs, it had approximately more attenuation performance in comparison with double cup pure ABS earmuffs. Consequently, users are probably more prone to wear light- weight single cup ABS/nanoclay earmuffs as a result of improved comfort. In short, ABS/nanoclay composite can be considered a good choice in products with the necessity of high acoustic performance and low weight.

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Relationship between comfort and attenuation measurements for two types of earplugs

Cited by 21 publications

References 9 publications

Musician earplugs: Appreciation and protection

Musician earplugs: Appreciation and protection

A critical review of the literature on comfort of hearing protection devices: definition of comfort and identification of its main attributes for earplug types

Acoustic Performance of 3D Printed Nanocomposite Earmuff

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