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Hearing and sound source identification with protective headwear.
Sharon M Abel1, Michel B DuCharme, Dan van der Werf
1Defence Research and Development Canada - Toronto, PO Box 2000, 1133 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3M 3B9.
Military Medicine
|December 3, 2010
Summary
Combat helmet attachments like neck and mandible guards did not impact hearing or sound attenuation. However, these guards significantly reduced sound source identification accuracy by 11.6%.
Area of Science:
- Auditory perception
- Protective equipment efficacy
- Human factors engineering
Background:
- Combat helmets are essential protective gear.
- Auditory situational awareness is critical for soldiers.
- The impact of helmet-mounted accessories on auditory perception requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of prototype neck and mandible guards on hearing thresholds.
- To assess the sound attenuation capabilities of these helmet attachments.
- To determine the influence of these guards on sound source identification accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Ten male subjects were tested with a bare head, helmet alone, and helmet with guards.
- Free-field hearing thresholds were measured across a range of frequencies (250 Hz to 8,000 Hz).
- Sound source identification was evaluated using a horizontal loudspeaker array and noise bursts.
Main Results:
- No significant changes in hearing thresholds or sound attenuation were observed with the helmet or guards.
- A significant 11.6% decrease in sound source identification accuracy was recorded with helmet and guard combinations.
- Reduced accuracy was noted for sound sources near the interaural axis, with a frontal bias introduced by the neck guard.
Conclusions:
- Combat helmet attachments did not impair hearing or provide significant sound attenuation.
- While sound source identification was negatively impacted, the observed error pattern is unlikely to compromise combat localization.
- Further research may explore design modifications to mitigate auditory perception deficits.
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