Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
07:56
An Automated System for Sound Localization Testing in Hearing-Impaired Listeners
Published on: March 13, 2026
115
Two-dimensional sound localization during hearing protector use: Human performance and acoustic prediction
D J Audet1, Aoi A Hunsaker1, Mallory Butler2
1Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|April 9, 2026
Summary
Hearing protection devices (HPDs) can impair sound localization in noisy environments. This study reveals HPDs disrupt auditory perception through attenuation and distortion, impacting worker safety and spatial awareness.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Perception
- Acoustic Engineering
- Occupational Safety
Background:
- Hearing protection devices (HPDs) are crucial for noise exposure mitigation but can negatively impact auditory perception.
- Previous research indicates HPDs disrupt sound source localization, a critical function for situational awareness, yet studies often lack generalizability due to small sample sizes and limited test conditions.
- Understanding how HPDs affect auditory perception is vital for improving worker safety in high-noise environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of various hearing protection devices (HPDs) on sound localization performance across a large participant sample and diverse acoustic conditions.
- To identify the specific acoustic mechanisms by which HPDs degrade sound localization capabilities.
- To explore intersubject variability and task-dependent biases in sound localization with HPD use.
Main Methods:
- Sound localization was assessed in 130 participants across two sites under five listening conditions: open ears (baseline) and four different HPDs.
- Test stimuli included brief noise bursts presented from 24 source locations (eight azimuths, three elevations), with variations in sound level and duration.
- Acoustic measurements were performed using a binaural manikin to correlate physical acoustic properties with perceptual localization performance.
Main Results:
- Hearing protection devices were found to disrupt sound localization through audibility loss (attenuation), monaural cue disruption (frequency distortion), and binaural cue disruption (asymmetric attenuation).
- Significant intersubject variability in localization performance was observed, indicating individual differences in susceptibility to HPD effects.
- Task-dependent biases and individual performance variations were noted, which were not fully explained by conventional acoustic measurements.
Conclusions:
- HPDs can impair sound localization by rendering cues inaudible or distorted, impacting crucial auditory functions for workers.
- The effectiveness of HPDs in preserving sound localization depends on the specific device, listening conditions, and individual listener characteristics.
- Further research is needed to develop HPDs that minimize auditory perception degradation and to better account for individual variability in occupational settings.
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