The effect of wearing time on hearing protector attenuation

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Occupational Health
• Materials Science

Background:

• Hearing protectors are crucial for mitigating noise-induced hearing loss.
• The long-term effectiveness of insert hearing protectors can be influenced by factors like wearing time and fit.
• Understanding attenuation changes over time is vital for selecting appropriate hearing protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of wearing time on the sound attenuation of three different types of insert hearing protectors.
• To quantify the reduction in attenuation after a period of use, including eating.

Main Methods:

• Three insert protectors were tested: E-A-R expandable foam, Willson premolded vinyl, and Bilsom soft polyethylene.
• Binaural hearing detection thresholds were measured in quiet, both initially and after 1-1.5 hours of wear.
• Attenuation was calculated by comparing open-ear and closed-ear thresholds at 500 Hz and 3150 Hz.

Main Results:

• Wearing time significantly affected the attenuation provided by the tested hearing protectors.
• Attenuation reduction varied by protector type, with some showing decreases up to 10 dB.
• The E-A-R expandable foam, Willson premolded vinyl, and Bilsom soft polyethylene protectors demonstrated different levels of attenuation stability over time.

Conclusions:

• The duration of wear is a critical factor influencing the real-world performance of insert hearing protectors.
• Users should be aware that hearing protection effectiveness can diminish over extended periods.
• Selection of hearing protectors should consider their stability of attenuation during prolonged use in noisy environments.