Custom hearing protection devices: Are they better?

Abstract

When hazardous noise is unavoidable, hearing protection devices (HPDs) are used to reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing injuries. The question of which HPD is appropriate or “the best” is often a subject of debate. Appropriateness may be dictated by environmental factors, such as noise exposure type and level, mission requirements such as communication needs, compatibility with other personal protective equipment, or even personal preference. Regardless of the type used, properly fitting hearing protection is paramount to prevent or reduce hazardous noise entering the auditory system. Custom HPDs are designed to fit the specific anatomy of an individual and, when made and fit properly, may be appropriate for many applications and missions (e.g., band members, certain aviators). In addition to being tailor-made to each individual, custom HPDs may be designed to couple with communication devices, frequency or level-specific filters, and/or may incorporate electronics to provide capabilities such as amplification or reduction of ambient noise. Attenuation performance of custom HPDs coupled to a communication earplug (CEP) was measured and compared to traditional foam HPDs coupled to the CEP. This discussion will include custom HPD fabrication options, performance characteristics, benefits, drawbacks, and finally their potential real-world application.