A Comparison of the Single-sided (Gen II) and Double-sided (Gen I) Combat Arms Earplugs (CAE): Acoustic Properties, Human Performance, and User Acceptance
Abstract
The U.S. Army Research Laboratory conducted a multi-factor assessment of the second generation Combat Arms Earplug (Gen II CAE) in order to determine whether it maintained the acoustic properties of the first generation CAE earplug (Gen I CAE) while improving its usability. Both versions of the CAE are dual mode earplugs providing either linear or nonlinear (leveldependent) noise attenuation. The Gen I CAE is a dual-sided earplug, with one side providing linear protection and the other providing nonlinear protection. The Gen II CAE is one-sided earplug, with mode selection accomplished by rotating a cylindrical switch in the body of the earplug. This report documents the results of steady-state and impulse noise attenuation objective and real-ear measurements; localization and speech intelligibility human performance tests; and user-acceptance questionnaires administered to Soldiers deployed in Iraq. The results of acoustic measurements and psychoacoustic assessments of Gen II CAE indicate that it closely matches performance of the Gen I CAE. The deployed Soldiers indicated some problems with the Gen II CAE but in general preferred the Gen II CAE over the Gen I CAE. These data and the qualitative improvements in Gen II CAE design fully justify the acquisition of the earplug by the U.S. Army.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA609344
Entities
People
- Joel Kalb
- Kara Cave
- Letowski
- Mary Binseel
- Tomasz
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory