Geluidsexpositie bij Gebruik van Otoplastieken met Communicatie (Sound Exposure Level of F-16 Crew Chiefs Using Custom Molded Communications Earplugs)
Abstract
Because of the noisy environment, F-16 crew chiefs at Air Base Volkel use communications earplugs (CEPs). CEPs are earplugs that incorporate a miniature loudspeaker through which the intercom can be presented to the user unattenuated while the earplugs do attenuate environmental sounds. In a previous study, we developed a method to assess the sound exposure level of CEP users. Not only was the attenuated F 16 noise taken into account, but also the sound exposure resulting from communication through the CEP. The latter was accounted for through the CEP's sensitivity - the relation between electric power level to the CEP and perceived sound level. Those measurements were all on CEPs with foam earplugs. In the current study, we extended it to custom molded earplugs (CME). The results show that the CME has a higher sound attenuation compared to the foam earplug in the frequency range of 250 Hz to 1 kHz only, resulting in a slight decrease in sound exposure of 2 dB. Furthermore, the CEP with foam earplug and the CEP with CME do not differ in electric to acoustic sensitivity. The estimated per-day dose, based on recordings of crew chiefs that use the CEP with CME, is 74 dB(A).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA489812
Entities
People
- J. A. Verhave
- M. M. Houben