Attenuation Characteristics of Earmuffs at Low Audio and Infrasonic Frequencies

Item

Title
Attenuation Characteristics of Earmuffs at Low Audio and Infrasonic Frequencies
Date
1967
Index Abstract
Not Available
Photo Quality
Not Needed
Report Number
AMRL TR 67-27
Creator
Nixon, Charles W.
Hille, Harald K.
Corporate Author
Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories; University of Dayton Research Institute
Laboratory
Biomedical Laboratory
Extent
22
Identifier
AD0655939
Access Rights
Distribution of this document is unlimited
Distribution Classification
1
Contract
Laboratory Research - No Contract
DoD Project
7231
DoD Task
723103
DTIC Record Exists
No
Distribution Change Authority Correspondence
None
Distribution Conflict
No
Abstract
Sound attenuation and transmission loss characteristics of three different earmuffs models were determined from (1) physical measurements of discrete frequency signals in the range from 1 to 500 Hz inside and outside earmuffs being worn by subjects and (2) psychoacoustical or subjective measurements employing the United States of America Institute of Standards 'Real Ear Attenuation at Threshold Method.' Evaluation of the data showed good correlation between the two measurement methods. Greater attenuation was obtained with the subjective method. It was interpreted to be due primarily to the masking effects at threshold of hearing of physiological noise present under the earcups. Findings show that typical present-day earmuffs provide approximately 10 dB of attentuation in the frequency range from 20 to 100 Hz and very little sound protection below 20 Hz. It is recommended that insert earplugs be used for sound protection in intense low audio frequency and infrasonic sound fields. Good earmuffs in combination with insert earplugs should provide more protection than earplugs alone.
Report Availability
Full text available
Date Issued
1967-05
Provenance
RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Type
report
Format
1 online resource