Abstract
Hearing protection devices (HPDs) such as earplugs offer to mitigate noise exposure and reduce the incidence of hearing loss among persons frequently exposed to intense sound. However, distortions of spatial acoustic information and reduced audibility of low-intensity sounds caused by many existing HPDs can make their use untenable in high-risk (e.g., military or law enforcement) environments where auditory situational awareness is imperative. Here we assessed (1) sound source localization accuracy using a head-turning paradigm, (2) speech-in-noise recognition using a modified version of the QuickSIN test, and (3) tone detection thresholds using a two-alternative forced-choice task. Subjects were 10 young normal-hearing males. Four different HPDs were tested (two active, two passive), including two new and previously untested devices. Relative to unoccluded (control) performance, all tested HPDs significantly degraded performance across tasks, although one active HPD slightly improved high-frequency tone detection thresholds and did not degrade speech recognition. Behavioral data were examined with respect to head-related transfer functions measured using a binaural manikin with and without tested HPDs in place. Data reinforce previous reports that HPDs significantly compromise a variety of auditory perceptual facilities, particularly sound localization due to distortions of high-frequency spectral cues that are important for the avoidance of front-back confusions.
Highlights
Hearing is important for communication and situational awareness
Three different auditory perceptual tests were administered to a group of young normal-hearing males to assess the effects of Hearing protection devices (HPDs) use on (1) sound source localization accuracy, (2) speech recognition, and (3) tone detection
The study was unique in its measurement of multiple auditory perceptual capacities across the same HPDs in doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0136568.g008
Summary
Hearing is important for communication and situational awareness. Hearing impairment can cause disability and reduce safety in a variety of settings [1,2]. Hearing impairment is detrimental in military or law enforcement settings, potentiating reduced survivability. Deleterious Perceptual Effects of Earplugs data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section
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