JOURNAL ARTICLE

Training to Improve Spatial Hearing and Situation Awareness when Wearing Hearing Protection.

  • Published In: Military Medicine, 2024, v. 189, n. 1/2. P. e306 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Golob, Edward J; Nelson, Jeremy T; Walasek, Jacek A; Piedra, Enrique T; Mock, Jeffrey R; Adams, Major Jason K; Esquivel, Colonel Carlos R; Spear, Colonel Samuel A 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on a study investigating whether brief training can improve spatial hearing and situational awareness in young adults wearing hearing protection devices (HPDs), which are commonly used in military settings but often impair sound localization. Participants were randomly assigned to a training group, which received auditory and visual feedback over three days, or a control group, with spatial hearing tested on Days 1 and 5. Results showed that wearing HPDs increased large localization errors and reduced accuracy, but the training group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in errors and improved localization compared to controls, indicating that short-term training can mitigate HPD-related spatial hearing deficits. Additionally, about 20% of participants inconsistently applied HPDs properly, limiting their protective benefit. These findings suggest that brief, targeted training may enhance HPD usability and compliance by improving auditory situational awareness.

Additional Information

  • Source:Military Medicine. 2024/01, Vol. 189, Issue 1/2, pe306
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:0026-4075
  • DOI:10.1093/milmed/usad352
  • Accession Number:175672248
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