Optimisation of an auditory azimuth localisation training protocol for military service members

Objective: Design an optimised auditory azimuth localisation training protocol by: (1) differing the number of training stimuli presentations to determine the highest angular accuracy achieved in the fewest training sessions, (2) evaluating the presence of training transfer from a broadband stimulus to untrained military-relevant stimuli and (3) measuring the effect of differing training strategies on localisation accuracy.Design: Two pilot studies of 18 and six subjects, respectively, determined the number of presentations and type of stimuli to be included in a localisation training experiment that evaluated different training strategies. In the pilot studies, participants trained using eight Learning Units (LU) and then tested using untrained stimuli. In the main experiment, 40 participants completed eight LUs using four different learning strategies, with 10 participants randomly assigned to each condition.Sample: All participants were ages 18-42 normal-hearing listeners with thresholds not exceeding 25 dB HL and asymmetry not exceeding 15 dB HL.Results: Transfer of training occurred using three of the four untrained stimuli. The training strategy that resulted in the highest localisation accuracy involved active participation.Conclusions: Training with a broadband stimulus transfers to untrained broadband stimuli. Training involving the active participation strategy resulted in the greatest localisation accuracy.