Evaluation of Two Objective Measures of Effective Auditory Stimulus Level
Abstract
The brainstem auditory evoked response and the 40-Hz component of the auditory mid-latency response were measured in human subjects as a function of stimulus frequency and level to determine whether one of the two could be used to provide a reliable estimation of the amount of attenuation provided by hearing protective devices in situations in which the time available for measurement is restricted. Under the conditions of the present experiment, the variability of the data for both types of measure was too great to permit a reliable estimation of effective stimulus level. Potentially harmful noise levels in many military environments require the use of hearing-protective devices by personnel operating in those environments. A rapid, reliable, and valid method for the field measurement of the amount of attenuation afforded by the various hearing protectors is needed to ensure that the devices are being properly used and are effective in reducing noise exposure. At present, a method for objectively measuring the attenuation of hearing protectors in a field environment is not available. Keywords: Auditory brainstem response; Auditory mid-latency response; Hearing protectors; Effective stimulus level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA214669
Entities
People
- Ben T. Mozo
- James H. Patterson Jr.
- Ted L. Langford
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab