Listening while wearing hearing protection: performance dynamics, choice to wear, and impacts of training

职业性听力损失(HL)负担严重，对医疗费用和 生活质量。迫切需要解决佩戴听力保护设备(HPD)的障碍，这些设备可以 预防霍奇金淋巴瘤。对于以下情况尤其如此：(1)在佩戴时发生的收听性能降低， 以及(2)工作场所条件允许的急救人员的作业环境 控制噪音。该项目将描述与HPD相关的性能降低及其对选择的影响 佩戴HPD，以及如何利用听觉训练作为缓解衰退的一种手段。 我们的创新方法将使用语音通知受试者执行特定操作的范例 感觉运动任务的各个方面。这模拟了第一响应者(例如， 消防员发出语音命令，告知她/他在另一项任务中的表现)。火奴鲁鲁警局的监听将 用数字滤波器模拟，该数字滤波器旨在模拟实际HPD的衰减曲线。 脑电(EEG)数据将允许对正在进行的认知的神经特征进行秘密检查 流程。该方法将允许对与HPD相关的性能影响进行详细的表征 以前没有实现的，同时保持研究与实践的相关性，绘制我们的 试验性任务，第一反应人员操作情况。 目标1将描述与HPD相关的性能下降。我们预计火奴鲁鲁警局的比较 没有HPD条件将揭示HPD使用对性能的多个维度的影响程度 (例如，语音理解、感觉运动任务的准确性和精神努力)。目标2将决定是否或 性能下降不会影响佩戴HPD的选择。在这里，我们将允许受试者自愿切换 他们模拟的HPD开关，同时操纵绩效激励以检查如何 听力困难会影响“佩戴”听力保护设备的时间。目标3将测试一项听觉训练 缓解性能下降的方法。在这里，我们将比较听觉训练在HPD中的效果 在多个表现维度上不存在HPD条件。目标1的影响将体现在以下几个方面 不能来自标准的调查和焦点小组方法。目标2的影响将是提供一个 评估性能下降如何影响实际的着装选择。目标3的影响将是 提供一种方法来解决HL预防计划(HLPP)中的性能下降问题。 NIOSH的相关战略目标包括：“减少职业性听力损失”，并告知 “针对雇主和工人的听力损失预防教育”。劳拉公共安全部门团体， 建筑业和制造业有着明显的关联性。产出包括出版物和会议 在跨学科场所进行演讲，这将加速从研究到实践的方向。结果就是 解决HPD使用率的新方法，并最终降低职业性HL。

The Burden of occupational hearing loss (HL) is severe, having negative impacts on health care costs and quality of life. There is a strong Need to address barriers to wearing hearing protection devices (HPDs) that can prevent HL. This is especially true in regard to: (1) listening performance decrements that occur while wearing, and (2) the operational environments of first responders whose workplace conditions allow relatively little control over noise. This project will characterize HPD-related performance decrements, their impact on choice to wear HPDs, and how auditory training can be used as a means to alleviate decrements. Our innovative approach will use a paradigm where speech informs subjects to perform specific aspects of a sensorimotor task. This mimics critical communication scenarios in first responders (e.g., a firefighter given speech commands that inform her/his performance on another task). HPD listening will be simulated with a digital filter designed to mimic the attenuation profile of an actual HPD. Electroencephalographic (EEG) data will allow covert examination of neural signatures of ongoing cognitive processes. The approach will allow the characterization of HPD-related performance effects to a level of detail not achieved before, while at the same time maintaining research-to-practice relevance in the mapping of our experimental task to first responder operational situations. AIM 1 will characterize HPD-related decrements in performance. We expect that comparison of HPD and no HPD conditions will reveal the extent to which HPD use impacts multiple dimensions of performance (e.g., speech comprehension, sensorimotor task accuracy, and mental effort). AIM 2 will determine whether or not performance decrements impact choice to wear HPDs. Here, we will allow subjects to voluntarily toggle their simulated HPD on and off, while at the same time manipulating performance incentives to examine how listening difficulty impacts time spent "wearing" hearing protection. AIM 3 will test an auditory training approach to alleviating performance decrements. Here, we will compare effects of auditory training in HPD and no HPD conditions on multiple dimensions of performance. Aim 1 Impact will be in knowledge gains that cannot come from standard survey and focus group methods. The Impact of Aim 2 will be to provide an assessment of how performance decrements impact actual choice to wear. The Impact of Aim 3 will be to provide a means to address performance decrements in HL prevention programs (HLPPs). Relevant NIOSH strategic goals include goals to: "reduce occupational hearing loss", and inform "hearing loss prevention education for employers and workers". NORA sector groups of public safety, construction, and manufacturing have clear relevance. Outputs include publications and conference presentations at interdisciplinary venues that will accelerate research-to-practice directions. Outcomes entail new approaches to addressing HPD use rates, and eventually, reduced occupational HL.