Perforated Concave Earplug (pCEP): A Proof-of-Concept Earplug to Improve Sound Localization without Compromising Noise Attenuation
Combat soldiers are currently faced with using a hearing-protection device (HPD) at the cost of adequately detecting critical signals impacting mission success. The current study tested the performance of the Perforated-Concave-Earplug (pCEP), a proof-of-concept passive HPD consisting of a concave b...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/17/7410 |
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| author | Nir Fink Rachel Levitas Arik Eisenkraft Linn Wagnert-Avraham S. David Gertz Leah Fostick |
| author_facet | Nir Fink Rachel Levitas Arik Eisenkraft Linn Wagnert-Avraham S. David Gertz Leah Fostick |
| author_sort | Nir Fink |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Combat soldiers are currently faced with using a hearing-protection device (HPD) at the cost of adequately detecting critical signals impacting mission success. The current study tested the performance of the Perforated-Concave-Earplug (pCEP), a proof-of-concept passive HPD consisting of a concave bowl-like rigid structure attached to a commercial roll-down earplug, designed to improve sound localization with minimal compromising of noise attenuation. Primarily intended for combat/military training settings, our aim was an evaluation of localization of relevant sound sources (single/multiple gunfire, continuous noise, spoken word) compared to 3M™-Combat-Arms™4.1 earplugs in open-mode and 3M™-E-A-R™-Classic™ earplugs. Ninety normal-hearing participants, aged 20–35 years, were asked to localize stimuli delivered from monitors evenly distributed around them in no-HPD and with-HPD conditions. The results showed (1) localization abilities worsened using HPDs; (2) the spoken word was localized less accurately than other stimuli; (3) mean root mean square errors (RMSEs) were largest for stimuli emanating from rear monitors; and (4) localization abilities corresponded to HPD attenuation levels (largest attenuation and mean RMSE: 3M™-E-A-R™-Classic™; smallest attenuation and mean RMSE: 3M™-Combat-Arms™4.1; pCEP was mid-range on both). These findings suggest that the pCEP may benefit in military settings by providing improved sound localization relative to 3M™ E-A-R™-Classic™ and higher attenuation relative to 3M™-Combat Arms™-4.1, recommending its use in noisy environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:13:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab243e0bc19f49a6b83afd67e7a2e2f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:13:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab243e0bc19f49a6b83afd67e7a2e2f42023-11-19T08:49:30ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202023-08-012317741010.3390/s23177410Perforated Concave Earplug (pCEP): A Proof-of-Concept Earplug to Improve Sound Localization without Compromising Noise AttenuationNir Fink0Rachel Levitas1Arik Eisenkraft2Linn Wagnert-Avraham3S. David Gertz4Leah Fostick5Department of Communication Disorders, Acoustics and Noise Research Lab in the Name of Laurent Levy, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, IsraelIsrael Defense Forces Medical Corps, Hakirya 6473424, IsraelInstitute for Research in Military Medicine (IRMM), Faculty of Medicine of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelInstitute for Research in Military Medicine (IRMM), Faculty of Medicine of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelInstitute for Research in Military Medicine (IRMM), Faculty of Medicine of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelDepartment of Communication Disorders, Auditory Perception Lab in the Name of Laurent Levy, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, IsraelCombat soldiers are currently faced with using a hearing-protection device (HPD) at the cost of adequately detecting critical signals impacting mission success. The current study tested the performance of the Perforated-Concave-Earplug (pCEP), a proof-of-concept passive HPD consisting of a concave bowl-like rigid structure attached to a commercial roll-down earplug, designed to improve sound localization with minimal compromising of noise attenuation. Primarily intended for combat/military training settings, our aim was an evaluation of localization of relevant sound sources (single/multiple gunfire, continuous noise, spoken word) compared to 3M™-Combat-Arms™4.1 earplugs in open-mode and 3M™-E-A-R™-Classic™ earplugs. Ninety normal-hearing participants, aged 20–35 years, were asked to localize stimuli delivered from monitors evenly distributed around them in no-HPD and with-HPD conditions. The results showed (1) localization abilities worsened using HPDs; (2) the spoken word was localized less accurately than other stimuli; (3) mean root mean square errors (RMSEs) were largest for stimuli emanating from rear monitors; and (4) localization abilities corresponded to HPD attenuation levels (largest attenuation and mean RMSE: 3M™-E-A-R™-Classic™; smallest attenuation and mean RMSE: 3M™-Combat-Arms™4.1; pCEP was mid-range on both). These findings suggest that the pCEP may benefit in military settings by providing improved sound localization relative to 3M™ E-A-R™-Classic™ and higher attenuation relative to 3M™-Combat Arms™-4.1, recommending its use in noisy environments.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/17/7410hearing protection devicessound localizationmilitary noiseperforated concave earplugs (pCEP) |
| spellingShingle | Nir Fink Rachel Levitas Arik Eisenkraft Linn Wagnert-Avraham S. David Gertz Leah Fostick Perforated Concave Earplug (pCEP): A Proof-of-Concept Earplug to Improve Sound Localization without Compromising Noise Attenuation Sensors hearing protection devices sound localization military noise perforated concave earplugs (pCEP) |
| title | Perforated Concave Earplug (pCEP): A Proof-of-Concept Earplug to Improve Sound Localization without Compromising Noise Attenuation |
| title_full | Perforated Concave Earplug (pCEP): A Proof-of-Concept Earplug to Improve Sound Localization without Compromising Noise Attenuation |
| title_fullStr | Perforated Concave Earplug (pCEP): A Proof-of-Concept Earplug to Improve Sound Localization without Compromising Noise Attenuation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perforated Concave Earplug (pCEP): A Proof-of-Concept Earplug to Improve Sound Localization without Compromising Noise Attenuation |
| title_short | Perforated Concave Earplug (pCEP): A Proof-of-Concept Earplug to Improve Sound Localization without Compromising Noise Attenuation |
| title_sort | perforated concave earplug pcep a proof of concept earplug to improve sound localization without compromising noise attenuation |
| topic | hearing protection devices sound localization military noise perforated concave earplugs (pCEP) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/17/7410 |
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