Evaluation of a Communication Beanie for Use with the MK 12 SSDS.

Abstract

The effectiveness of a beanie to improve communication and provide helmet noise attenuation was assessed. Eight male divers dove repeatedly on air to 6, 130, and 190 FSW wearing the MD 12 SSDS helmet in the normal configuration and with a communication beanie. A modified rhyme test performed at depth showed the beanie significantly improved speech intelligibility. The divers' hearing threshold levels were measured pre and immediately post dive. The temporary threshold shifts as a result of the noise exposures did not vary significantly as a function of helmet configuration or depth. However, the auditory data showed that auditory threshold shifts recovered during resting decompression. These findings indicate that present U. S. Navy diving procedures for diving the MK 12 SSDS in air do not lead to permanent hearing damage. Furthermore, the communication beanie significantly improved speech intelligibility.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA182946

Entities

People

  • M. D. Curley
  • M. E. Knafelc

Organizations

  • United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Background Noise
  • Communication Systems
  • Divers
  • Diving
  • Flow
  • Flow Rate
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Analyzers
  • Gas Flow
  • Hearing Loss
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Intelligibility
  • Microphones
  • Noise
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Speech Processing/Speech Recognition.
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.