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Document ID (ISN)49097
CIS number 88-327
ISSN - Serial title 0014-0139 - Ergonomics
Year 1987
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Mershon D.H., Lin L.J.
Title Directional localization in high ambient noise with and without the use of hearing protectors
Bibliographic information 1987, Vol.30, No.8, p.1161-1173. Illus. 20 ref.
Abstract Personal hearing protective devices (HPDs) are becoming increasingly common in settings where levels of noise above 85dB(A) represent a potential threat to hearing. Several previous studies have indicated that the use of such devices adversely affects the localisation of sounds, but none of these experiments employed very precise measures of location discriminability. The major study in the present report examined just such fine discrimination, using a forced-choice task, and compared the effects of three different HPDs. Localisation signals were 1.5s bursts of noise (≥1kHz). Both of the described experiments were conducted in environments designed to simulate real working conditions. Results indicated that greater attenuation (especially at higher frequencies) was the primary factor associated with poor performance on the fine discrimination task.
Descriptors (primary) noise; hearing protection
Descriptors (secondary) audiology; ergonomic evaluation
Document type D - Periodical articles
Subject(s) Noise, hearing and vibration
Broad subject area(s) Physiology, ergonomics
Browse category(ies) Noise
Hearing protection