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Effects of Conventional Passive Earmuffs, Uniformly Attenuating Passive Earmuffs, and Hearing Aids on Speech Intelligibility in Noise

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Effects of Conventional Passive Earmuffs, Uniformly Attenuating Passive Earmuffs, and Hearing Aids on Speech Intelligibility in Noise EFFECTS OF CONVENTIONAL PASSIVE EARMUFFS, UNIFORMLY ATTENUATING PASSIVE EARMUFFS, AND HEARING AIDS ON SPEECH INTELLIGIBILITY IN NOISE DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Babette L. Verbsky, M.S. * * * * * The Ohio State University 2002 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Dr. Lawrence L. Feth, Advisor Dr. Gail Whitelaw ___________________________________ Advisor Dr. Mark Stephenson Speech and Hearing Science Department ABSTRACT Occupational hearing conservation regulations neither address issues related to speech intelligibility in noise for normal-hearing or hearing-impaired workers, nor do the regulations comment on the safety of hearing aid use by hearing-impaired workers. Do certain types of hearing protection devices (HPDs) allow for better speech intelligibility than others? Would use of hearing aids with earmuffs provide better speech intelligibility for hearing-impaired workers? Is this method of accommodation safe? To answer these questions, a method for evaluating speech intelligibility with HPDs was developed through a series of pilot tests. The test method allows for evaluation of both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. Speech intelligibility for normal-hearing listeners who wore uniformly attenuating earmuffs was found to be significantly better than for the same listeners who wore conventional earmuffs. Hearing-impaired listeners were tested with each type of earmuff and while wearing their own hearing aids in combination with each earmuff. Unlike the normal hearing listener group, the hearing-impaired listener group did not exhibit better speech intelligibility with the uniformly attenuating earmuffs than with the conventional earmuffs. However, earmuffs worn in combination with hearing aids allowed for significantly better speech intelligibility than with either earmuff alone. ii To determine the safety of hearing aid use under earmuffs, a model was developed to predict occupational noise exposure for the aided-protected worker. Data from real ear measures with an acoustic mannequin was found to be in agreement with model predictions. iii Dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Antoinette Elizabeth Ontko Dziak Fish, who taught her daughters and grandchildren to value and pursue a good education Dedicated also to my mother, Janet Marie Dziak Eaton, who has always given me the encouragement, support and freedom to follow my dreams iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank my research colleagues at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the Hearing Loss Prevention Section at Taft Laboratories in Cincinnati, Ohio. My primary mentor at NIOSH, John R. Franks, spent many hours with me providing technical and informational support throughout the project. I am also grateful to Dr. Franks for extending the Fellowship to work on the Hearing-Impaired Worker Project in conjunction with my dissertation. My colleagues on the Hearing- Impaired Worker project, Thais C. Morata and Christa L. Themann, participated in discussions regarding the test protocol. Ms. Themann also made excellent analytical observations, shared writing suggestions, and encouraged me on a daily basis. William J. Murphy provided technical support for the ATF measurements done in the Hearing Protector Laboratory. Dr. Murphy also engaged me in challenging and thought- provoking discussions regarding this research, and was always available for technical assistance. Chucri A. (Chuck) Kardous developed a custom MatLab program for digital file analysis which was used in this research project. And finally, Edward Krieg, Jr and Peter B. Shaw, provided statistical support for this project. I am indebted to The Ohio State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic Director, Gail Whitelaw, and her office and audiology staff for providing recruiting assistance, equipment and facilities for this research. Without their co-operation this v project may not have been possible. In particular, a special thank you goes to Shannon Hand for scheduling support. John Zimmer and Lawrence L. Feth assisted in the laboratory setup for the preliminary work with normal hearing listeners. Many thanks go to fellow students for volunteering to participate in the normative studies. I am also grateful to Dr. Feth’s lab group, B.A.N.G., for helpful comments on this research. My dissertation committee included three remarkable people, Mark Stephenson, Gail Whitelaw, and Lawrence Feth, who always made time for me when I needed them. Dr. Stephenson has been a mentor, colleague and friend. His insightful comments have kept me focused on the important issues in hearing conservation. Dr. Whitelaw has given me excellent advice during my time at OSU and has always been willing to stand in the gap when needs would arise. Dr. Feth, my advisor, has invested countless hours in my education both in the classroom and in the laboratory. More importantly, he taught me to use my knowledge of the discipline to be an independent researcher. And finally thank you to my husband, Mark, for his unconditional love and many acts of kindness throughout the entire dissertation process. vi VITA July 19, 1959………. Born – Ashland, Ohio 1982………………... Bachelor of Music Education, Bowling Green State University 1990 – 1991………... Teaching Assistant, Bowling Green State University 1991………………... Master of Science, Communication Disorders, Bowling Green State University 1991 – 1994………... Clinical Audiologist, West Central Ohio Hearing & Speech Center 1995……………….. Clinical Audiologist, Mercy Speech & Hearing Center 1996 – 1999……….. Chief Audiologist, Mary Rutan Hospital 1999 – 2000……….. Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University PUBLICATIONS Research Publication None FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Speech and Hearing Science vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ...……………………………………………………………………………... ii Dedication ……………………………………………………………………………... iv Acknowledgments ……………………………………………………………………... v Vita …………………………………………………………………........................... vii List of Tables ……………………………………………………………….................. xi List of Figures.………………………………………………………………………….xiii Chapters: 1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………... 1 1.1 Measurement of Speech Intelligibility with HPDs …………………................. 3 1.1.1 Effects of Hearing Impairment on Speech Intelligibility with HPDs...... 6 1.1.2 Effects of Presentation Level on Speech Intelligibility with HPDs….... 8 1.1.3 Effects of SNR on Speech Intelligibility with HPDs.............................. 10 1.1.4 Effects of Test Methods on Speech Intelligibility with HPDs................ 11 1.1.5 Effects of Type of Noise Masker on Speech Intelligibility with HPDs.. 12 1.1.6 Effects of Reverberation Time on Speech Intelligibility with HPDs...... 13 1.1.7 Effects of Type of HPD on Speech Intelligibility with HPDs................. 14 1.2 Audibility with HPDs: Job Safety....................................................................... 17 1.3 Balancing Speech Intelligibility and Audibility in Specific Work Environments....................................................................................................... 17 1.4 HAs in Noisy Environments................................................................................ 18 1.5 Prediction of Speech Intelligibility with HPDs and Hearing Aids...................... 18 1.6 Project Overview................................................................................................. 20 2. Preliminary Work......……………………...………………………………............. 21 2.1 Test Protocol Development ......….......……….……………………................. 21 viii 2.2 Test Protocol Validation ................................................................................... 23 2.2.1 Phase I.................................................................................................... 24 2.2.1.1 Hypotheses.......................................................................................... 24 2.2.1.2 Study Design....................................................................................... 27 2.2.1.3 Equipment........................................................................................... 27 2.2.1.4 Subjects............................................................................................... 35 2.2.1.5 Test Procedures................................................................................... 37 2.2.1.6 Results................................................................................................. 41 2.2.1.7 Discussion........................................................................................... 55 2.2.2 Phase II................................................................................................... 59 2.2.2.1 Purpose of the Study........................................................................... 59 2.2.2.2 Study Design....................................................................................... 59 2.2.2.3 Equipment............................................................................................ 59 2.2.2.4 Subjects................................................................................................ 60 2.2.2.5 Test Procedures.................................................................................... 61 2.2.2.6 Results.................................................................................................. 64 2.2.2.7 Discussion...........................................................................................
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