PMID- 2801516
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19891106
LR  - 20081121
IS  - 0002-8894 (Print)
IS  - 0002-8894 (Linking)
VI  - 50
IP  - 9
DP  - 1989 Sep
TI  - An exploratory study of moderate physical activity and selected design attribute 
      effects on earmuff attenuation.
PG  - 480-5
AB  - Hearing protective devices are tested for their attenuation characteristics under 
      controlled laboratory conditions. Unfortunately, these tests overestimate the 
      typical attenuation performance of the devices in the field, posing the 
      possibility of inadequate protection for the user. Many factors may affect 
      achieved in-field attenuation. This research investigated the influence of the 
      user's work-related movement and variations in headband compression force and 
      earcup cushion material (liquid- or foam-filled) on the frequency-specific noise 
      attenuation achieved with earmuffs. Real-ear attenuation at threshold (REAT) 
      testing procedures were used to collect attenuation data on 24 subjects both 
      prior to and following completion of a simulated work task. Statistical analyses 
      indicated that moderate work-related movement significantly decreased 
      low-frequency attenuation but by only a small amount (1.5 dB at 125 Hz). A high 
      headband compression force was found to increase attenuation by approximately 1.5 
      to 4 dB at 125, 250, 500, and 8000 Hz. There was no significant difference at any 
      frequency between cushion types. The results indicate a small effect of moderate 
      physical work activity on hearing protector effectiveness and illustrate the 
      importance of certain earmuff design parameters to achieved attenuation.
FAU - Casali, J G
AU  - Casali JG
AD  - Auditory Systems Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 
      Blacksburg.
FAU - Grenell, J F
AU  - Grenell JF
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - Am Ind Hyg Assoc J
JT  - American Industrial Hygiene Association journal
JID - 0371160
SB  - IM
MH  - *Ear Protective Devices
MH  - Equipment Design
MH  - Female
MH  - Hearing
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - *Physical Exertion
MH  - *Protective Devices
EDAT- 1989/09/01 00:00
MHDA- 1989/09/01 00:01
CRDT- 1989/09/01 00:00
PHST- 1989/09/01 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1989/09/01 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1989/09/01 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1080/15298668991375029 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1989 Sep;50(9):480-5. doi: 10.1080/15298668991375029.