Enhancing hearing protection in complex noise environments with extended-wear hearing aids

Abstract

Conventional hearing protection devices (HPDs) work well in predictable noise environments where it is practical to put them on prior to exposure and remove them after. However, some noise environments are characterized by long periods of relative quiet that are unpredictably interrupted by brief periods of hazardous noise. These environments make it difficult to ensure that HPDs are worn when exposure to hazardous levels occurs. One possible solution is the extended-wear hearing aid (EWHA), a hearing aid that completely blocks the ear canal and can remain in the ear for months at a time. Previous research has shown that the EWHA can provide protection from impulse noise without significantly interfering with detection and localization of environmental sounds. At that time, the major drawback of the EWHA was that once it was removed it could only be re-inserted by an audiologist. This limitation has been addressed by the development of a self-insertion tool that allows users to remove and re-insert the EWHA as desired. We will discuss the potential advantages of using the EWHA as an HPD, with an emphasis on situations where the EWHA could be used to reduce noise exposure without modifying the current commercially available device.