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U.S. Department of Energy
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Effect of hearing protectors on the perception of warning and indicator sounds: a general review

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5916599

This review examines the literature available on the auditory effects of wearing hearing protectors. To provide a basis for a concurrent research program it initially considers the perception of auditory signals. A conceptual model of the perception process suggests that the three components, audibility, attention demand and recognition are of importance. Several methods of predicting the audibility of complex sounds in noise have been suggested and these are compared and their limitations highlighted. Although a number of studies have considered the attention demand of warning sounds, it is concluded that they do not allow any firm conclusions on the effect of inattention to be drawn. The recognition of warning and indicator sounds has not specifically been investigated; however, related research has provided some insights into the recognition process.

Research Organization:
Southampton Univ. (UK). Inst. of Sound and Vibration Research
OSTI ID:
5916599
Report Number(s):
PB-81-167587
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English