435
Views
6
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

Speech recognition in noise under hearing protection: A computational study of the combined effects of hearing loss and hearing protector attenuation

&
Pages S30-S40 | Received 07 Nov 2015, Accepted 04 Dec 2015, Published online: 03 Feb 2016

References

  • Abel S.M. 2008. Barriers to hearing conservation programs in combat arms occupations. Aviat Space Environ Med, 79, 591–598.
  • Abel S.M., Alberti P.W., Haythornthwaite C. & Riko K. 1982. Speech intelligibility in noise: Effects of fluency and hearing protector type. J Acoust Soc Am, 71, 708–715.
  • Abel S.M., Kunov H., Pichora-Fuller M.K. & Alberti P.W. 1985. Signal detection in industrial noise: Effects of noise exposure history, hearing loss, and the use of ear protection. Scand Audiol, 14, 161–173.
  • ANSI/ASA S3.4-2007 R2012. American National Standard Methods for the Computation of Loudness of Steady Sounds. New York, American National Standards Institute.
  • ANSI/ASA S3.5-1997 R2012. American National Standard Methods for Calculation of the Speech Intelligibility Index. New York, American National Standards Institute.
  • ANSI S3.19-1974. American National Standard Method for the Measurement of Real-Ear Protection of Hearing Protectors and Physical Attenuation of Earmuffs. New York, American National Standards Institute.
  • ANSI/ASA S12.68-2007 R2012. American National Standard Methods of Estimating Effective A-Weighted Sound Pressure Levels When Hearing Protectors are worn. New York, American National Standards Institute.
  • Berger E.H. 1991. Flat-response, moderate-attenuation, and level-dependent hpds: how they work, and what they can do for you. NHCA Spectrum, 8(Suppl 1), 17
  • Berger E.H. 2000. Hearing protection devices. Chapter 10. In: E.H. Berger, L.H. Royster, J.D. Royster, D.P. Driscoll, & M. Layne (eds.), The Noise Manual, Fifth Edition, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Fairfax VA, pp. 379–454.
  • Berger E.H. 2014. Relationship of insertion depth to real-ear attenuation for roll-down foam earplugs. NHCA Spectrum, 31 (Suppl 1), 9.
  • Berger E.H. & Kieper R.W. 2014. Evaluation of variability in real-ear attenuation testing using a unique database – 35 years of data from a single laboratory. J Acoust Soc Am, 136(4 Pt 2), 2134.
  • Bouserhal R.E., Macdonald E., Falk T.H. & Voix J. 2016. Variations in voice level and fundamental frequency with changing background noise level and talker-to-listener distance while wearing hearing protectors: a pilot study. Int J Audiol, 55. [epub ahead of print] DOI: 10.3109/14992027.2015.1122240.
  • Casali J.G. 2010a. Electronic augmentations in hearing protection technology circa 2010 including active noise reduction, electronically-modulated sound transmission, and tactical communications devices: Review of design, testing, and research. Int J Acoust Vibr, 15, 168–186.
  • Casali J.G. 2010b. Passive augmentations in hearing protection technology circa 2010 including flat-attenuation, passive level-dependent, passive wave resonance, passive adjustable attenuation, adjustable-fit devices: Review of design, testing and research. Int J Acoust Vibr, 15, 187–195.
  • CSA Z94.2-14. Hearing Protection Devices – Performance, Selection, Care, and Use. Toronto: Canadian Standards Association.
  • EN 458: 2004. Hearing Protectors – Recommendations for Selection, Use, Care and Maintenance – Guidance Document. Brussels: European Committee for Standardization.
  • Giguère C. & Berger E.H. 2014. Exploration of flat hearing protector attenuation and sound detection in noise. 168th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Indianapolis IN, October 27-31. J Acoust Soc Am, 136(4 Pt 2), 2165–2166.
  • Giguère C. & Berger E.H. 2015. Modeling the interaction between the hearing protector attenuation function and the hearing loss profile on sound detection in noise. Proceedings of Euronoise 2015, Maastricht, The Netherlands, 31 May-3 June, 6 pages.
  • Giguère C., Laroche C., Vaillancourt V. & Soli S.D. 2010. Modelling speech intelligibility in the noisy workplace for normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners using hearing protectors. Int J Acoust Vibr, 15, 156–167.
  • Giguère C., Laroche C. & Vaillancourt V. 2015. The interaction of hearing loss and level-dependent hearing protection on speech recognition in noise. Int J Audiol, 54, S9–S18.
  • Giguère C., Vaillancourt V. & Laroche C. 2014. The interaction of hearing loss and hearing protection on speech recognition in noise. NHCA Spectrum, 31(2), 11–17
  • Hiselius P. 2000. A new generation: uniform attenuation hearing protectors offer superior communication and user acceptance for normal and hearing-impaired listeners. Occup Health Saf, 69(3), 50–54.
  • Hormann H., Lazarus-Mainka G., Schubeius M. & Lazarus H. 1984. The effect of noise and the wearing of ear protectors on verbal communication. Noise Control Eng J, 23, 69–77.
  • ISO 1999: 2013. Acoustics – Estimation of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.
  • ISO 4869-2: 1994. Acoustics – Hearing Protectors – Part 2: Estimation of Effective A-Weighted Sound Pressure Levels When Hearing Protectors Are Worn. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.
  • ISO 7731: 2003. Ergonomics – Danger Signals for Public and Work Areas – Auditory Danger Signals. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.
  • ISO 9612: 1996. Acoustics – Determination of Occupational Noise Exposure – Engineering Method. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization.
  • Killion M.C. 2012. Factors influencing use of hearing protection by trumpet players. Trends Amplif, 16, 173–178.
  • Kohata S., Inoue J., Sakuma T., Nakagawa T., Kawanami, S. & Horie, S. 2015. Evaluation of the hearing of Japanese speech while wearing earplugs in a noisy environment. Proceedings of Inter-Noise 2015. San Francisco, CA. 6 pages.
  • Lazarus H. 2005. Signal recognition and hearing protectors with normal and impaired hearing. Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 11, 233–250.
  • Letowski T. & Mcgee L. 1993. Detection of warble tones in wideband noise with and without hearing protection devices. Ann Occup Hyg, 37, 607–614.
  • Letowski T., Vaughan N., Good S., Lynch D. & Myers L. 1998. Speech Communication with Flat-Attenuation Hearing Protectors. In V.C. Goodwin & D.C. Stevenson (eds.), Proceedings of Inter-Noise 98. Poughkeepsie, NY: Noise Control Foundation. 4 pages.
  • Liedtke M. 2002. Specifying a general criterion for hearing protectors with the aim of ensuring with the aim of ensuring good acoustic perception. Noise Vibr Worldwide, 33(7), 19–23.
  • Liedtke M. 2009. German criteria for selection of hearing protectors in the interest of good signal audibility. Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 15, 163–174.
  • Lindeman H.E. 1976. Speech intelligibility and the use of hearing protectors. Audiology, 15, 348–356.
  • Morata T.C., Themann C.L., Randolph R.F., Verbsky B.L., Byrne D.C. & Reeves E.R. 2005. Working in noise with a hearing loss: perceptions from workers, supervisors, and hearing conservation program managers. Ear Hear, 26, 529–545.
  • Niquette P. 2006. Hearing protection for musicians. Hear Rev, 13(3), 52–58.
  • Niquette P. 2007. Uniform attenuation hearing protection devices. Hear Rev, 14(3), 42–45.
  • Robinson G.S. & Casali J.G. 1995. Audibility of reverse alarms under hearing protectors for normal and hearing-impaired listeners. Ergonomics, 38, 2181–2299.
  • Robinson G.S. & Casali, J.G. 2000. Speech communication and signal detection in noise. Chapter 14. In: E.H. Berger, L.H. Royster, J.D. Royster, D.P. Driscoll & M. Layne (eds.). The Noise Manual, Fifth Edition, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Fairfax VA, pp. 567–600.
  • Themann C., Suter A.H. & Stephenson M.R. 2013. National Research Agenda for the prevention of occupational hearing loss – Part 1. Semin Hear, 34, 145–207.
  • Tufts J.B. & Frank T. 2003. Speech production in noise with and without hearing protection. J Acoust Soc Am, 114, 1069–1080.
  • Vaillancourt V., Nélisse H., Laroche C., Giguère C., Boutin J. & Laferrière P. 2013. Comparison of sound propagation and perception of three types of backup alarms with regards to worker safety. Noise Health, 15, 420–436.
  • Verbsky B.L. 2002. Effects of conventional passive earmuffs, uniformly attenuating passive earmuffs, and hearing aids on speech intelligibility in noise. Doctoral Dissertation, Ohio State University.
  • Vermiglio A.J. 2008. The American English hearing in noise test. Int J Audiol, 47, 386–387.
  • Wilde G. & Humes L.E. 1990. Application of the articulation index to the speech recognition of normal and impaired listeners wearing hearing protection. J Acoust Soc Am, 87, 1192–1199.
  • Wilkins P.A. & Martin A.M. 1987. Hearing protection and warning sounds in industry - A review. Appl Acoust, 21, 267–293.
  • Zheng Y., Giguère C., Laroche C., Sabourin C., Gagné A., et al. 2007. A psychoacoustical model for specifying the level and spectrum of acoustic warning signals in the workplace. J Occup Environ Hyg, 4, 87–98.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.