Richtinghoren met gehoorverlies en gehoorbescherming
article
Sound source localization is based on interaural differences in sound level and interaural differences in sound arrival time. The hearing impaired may have poorer localization because hearing loss may interfere with the directional information contained in the interaural spectral level differences and also because discrimination in the temporal domain may be impaired. Hearing protectors. in particular earmuffs, may also affect the interaural spectral and temporal cues. The effect of both. hearing impairment and hearing protectors, on sound localization is unknown. This is, however, an important question in view of individuals with noise-induced hearing loss that have to work in a noisy environment which requires hearing protection. Therefore, this question was investigated in the laboratory using 52 subjects with varying degrees of noise-induced hearing loss who had to identify one of eight sound sources positioned in a full circle. The results show many front-back confusions in all conditions, an increase in the number of backward localizations with an increase in hearing loss and an increase in the negative effect of hearing protection on localization with increasing hearing loss. Ear plugs introduce a bias toward backward localizations, earmuffs a bias toward sideward localizations.
TNO Identifier
6975
Source
NAG Nederlands akoestisch genootschap journaal, pp. 58-69.
Pages
58-69
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