Performance Assessment of Hearing Protection and Communication Enhancement Devices: Peltor Comtac III and IV
Abstract
Hearing Protection and communication enhancement devices were designed for those who want to maintain natural hearing while protecting their ears from impulse and continuous noises like gunfire, explosions, vehicles, and machinery. There were potential advantages for this technology in military applications, provided an accurate and complete assessment of the performance was conducted. Peltor Comtac III (modified and standard) and Comtac IV headsets were assessed for: continuous noise attenuation, impulsive peak insertion loss, auditory localization, and speech intelligibility. The Peltor Comtac headsets reduced the noise level in the ear when the user was exposed to continuous and/or impulsive noise. The devices also reduced critical aural cues required to localize sounds essential to maintaining situational awareness. The active headsets may amplify low level sounds, but the localization performance was degraded in comparison to the open ear performance. The results from the speech intelligibility measurements for the Peltor Comtac headsets were acceptable in low to moderate noise environments, however, at 105 dB, the average scores did not meet current military standards.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA621930
Entities
People
- Billy J. Swayne
- Hilary L. Gallagher
- Melissa A. Theis
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory