Methods of Developing and Validating a Field-MIRE Approach for Measuring Hearing Protector Attenuation

Methods of Developing and Validating a Field-MIRE Approach for Measuring Hearing Protector Attenuation. Berger, E. H., Voix, J., & Kieper, R. W. In NHCA Spectrum, volume Vol. 24, S, of First european forum on effective solutions for managing occupational noise, pages p. 22, Savannah, GA, 2007. NHCA, Greenwood Village, CO, USA.

Paper abstract bibtex

Numerous studies have shown that the reliability of using laboratory measurements to predict individual or even group hearing protector attenuation, for occupationally exposed workers, is quite poor. This makes it difficult to properly assign hearing protectors for critical high-noise environments, as well as for lower noise levels when one wishes to closely match attenuation to actual exposure. An alternative is the use of field measurement methods, a number of which have been proposed and are beginning to be implemented. We examine the pros and cons of the various techniques, review existing measurement devices and focus on the development and testing of a field microphone in real ear (F-MIRE) approach in which a dual-element microphone probe is used to measure noise reduction by quickly sampling the levels outside an earplug minus the levels inside, with appropriate adjustments to predict real ear attenuation at threshold (REAT). The method was tested on both foam and premolded earplugs by comparing conventional REAT results to F-MIRE data for the same fit of the device on 20 listeners under various conditions of fit and refit. We describe the accuracy and precision of the F-MIRE approach, and recommend how to develop uncertainty factors for application of the data.

@inproceedings{ berger_methods_2007,
  address = {Savannah, {GA}},
  series = {First european forum on effective solutions for managing occupational noise},
  title = {Methods of Developing and Validating a Field-{MIRE} Approach for Measuring Hearing Protector Attenuation},
  volume = {Vol. 24, S},
  isbn = {3540209263},
  url = {http://www.e-a-rfit.com/files/AT012.pdf http://www.e-a-rfit.com/files/EARFit_Brochure.pdf},
  abstract = {Numerous studies have shown that the reliability of using laboratory measurements to predict individual or even group hearing protector attenuation, for occupationally exposed workers, is quite poor. This makes it difficult to properly assign hearing protectors for critical high-noise environments, as well as for lower noise levels when one wishes to closely match attenuation to actual exposure. An alternative is the use of field measurement methods, a number of which have been proposed and are beginning to be implemented. We examine the pros and cons of the various techniques, review existing measurement devices and focus on the development and testing of a field microphone in real ear (F-{MIRE}) approach in which a dual-element microphone probe is used to measure noise reduction by quickly sampling the levels outside an earplug minus the levels inside, with appropriate adjustments to predict real ear attenuation at threshold ({REAT}). The method was tested on both foam and premolded earplugs by comparing conventional {REAT} results to F-{MIRE} data for the same fit of the device on 20 listeners under various conditions of fit and refit. We describe the accuracy and precision of the F-{MIRE} approach, and recommend how to develop uncertainty factors for application of the data.},
  booktitle = {{NHCA} Spectrum},
  publisher = {{NHCA}, Greenwood Village, {CO}, {USA}},
  author = {Berger, Elliott H. and Voix, Jérémie and Kieper, Ron W.},
  year = {2007},
  keywords = {Proceedings},
  pages = {p. 22}
}

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