In-ear noise dosimetry under earplug: Method to exclude wearer-induced disturbances

Bonnet, Fabien; Nélisse, Hugues; Nogarolli, Marcos A.C.; Voix, Jérémie

doi:10.1016/j.ergon.2019.102862

Cited by 9 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…When the IEM is disturbed by WIDs, such as speech, this coherence decreases within the frequency range of the disturbance signal. When such coherence is measured at regular time intervals and averaged across a predefined frequency range [f min f max ], it is then possible to define an indicator, here referred to as ∆ (dB), to detect WID events [24,26]. A binary decision is taken by comparing this indicator to a predefined threshold parameter In-ear L eq calculated with the i * (n) output of the adaptive f ilter ('AF') L TF…”

Section: Reference Wid Detection and Rejection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To estimate the in-ear noise dose while excluding the noise contribution from low-level WIDs, the earplug transfer function is subtracted from the noise level measured by the OEM. For high-level WIDs, the noise level at the IEM is assumed to be the same as the last recorded audio sample where no WIDs are detected [26,24]. This approach isolates most of the noise contributions from the wearer, regardless of the WID's type [33,24].…”

Section: Reference Wid Detection and Rejection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For high-level WIDs, the noise level at the IEM is assumed to be the same as the last recorded audio sample where no WIDs are detected [26,24]. This approach isolates most of the noise contributions from the wearer, regardless of the WID's type [33,24]. In the present work, the parameter values of ∆ th =0.75 found by [24] is used, but the SPL threshold L th is set at 70 dB as recommended by a more recent study [33].…”

Section: Reference Wid Detection and Rejection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This approach isolates most of the noise contributions from the wearer, regardless of the WID's type [33,24]. In the present work, the parameter values of ∆ th =0.75 found by [24] is used, but the SPL threshold L th is set at 70 dB as recommended by a more recent study [33].…”

Section: Reference Wid Detection and Rejection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, such an approach has also recently proven to raise awareness among workers as the noise exposure feedback helped them reduce their noise dose through more appropriate HPD use [23]. However, the SPL measured inside the earcanal may be affected by various wearerinduced disturbances (WID) [24] such as talking, coughing or chewing, as well as microphonics, which are amplified by the occlusion effect when wearing an earplug [25]. As a result, the earplug can increase the measured in-ear noise dose instead of reducing it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Method for protected noise exposure level assessment under an in-ear hearing protection device: a pilot study

Nadon

Bonnet

Bouserhal

et al. 2020

International Journal of Audiology

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Objective: To properly measure the effective noise exposure level of workers with hearing protection devices (HPD), the use of in-ear noise dosimeters (IEND) is increasing. Commercial IENDs typically feature one in-ear microphone that captures all noises inside the ear and do not discriminate the residual noise in the earcanal from wearer-induced disturbances (WID) to calculate the in-ear sound pressure levels (SPL). A method to alleviate this particular issue with IENDs and calculate the hearing protection level on-site is therefore proposed. Design: The sound captured by an outer-ear microphone is filtered with the modeled HPD transfer function to estimate the in-ear SPL, this way part of the WIDs mostly captured by the in-ear microphone can be rejected from the SPL. The level of protection provided by the earplugs can then be estimated from the difference between in-ear and outer-ear SPLs. The proposed method is validated by comparing the outcome of the proposed WID rejection method to a reference method. Study sample: The detailed methods are assessed on audio recordings from 16 industrial workers monitored for up to 4 days. Results: The merits of the proposed WID rejection approach are discussed in terms of residual SPL and hearing protection level estimation accuracy. Conclusions: Based on the findings, a method to integrate the proposed WID rejection algorithm in future IENDs is suggested.

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Section: Reference Wid Detection and Rejection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Reference Wid Detection and Rejection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Reference Wid Detection and Rejection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Reference Wid Detection and Rejection Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Method for protected noise exposure level assessment under an in-ear hearing protection device: a pilot study

Nadon

Bonnet

Bouserhal

et al. 2020

International Journal of Audiology

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Individual in situ calibration of in-ear noise dosimeters

et al. 2020

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Sound-level Monitoring Earphones With Smartphone Feedback as an Intervention to Promote Healthy Listening Behaviors in Young Adults

et al. 2021

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Objectives: More than a billion adolescents and youngsters are estimated to be at risk of acquiring recreational noise-induced hearing loss (RNIHL) due to the unsafe use of personal audio systems. RNIHL is preventable; therefore, the present study aimed to determine (i) the accuracy and reliability of dbTrack (Westone) sound-level monitoring earphones and (ii) the effect of sound-level monitoring earphones with smartphone feedback and hearing-health information as an intervention to promote healthy listening behaviors in young adults. Design: The study consisted of two phases: the first phase investigated the accuracy and reliability of dbTrack sound-level monitoring earphones. Accuracy was determined by comparing earphone measurements to sound level meter measurements. Intradevice reliability was determined by comparing earphone measurements during test-retest conditions. Nineteen participants were recruited through convenience sampling to determine within-subject reliability by comparing in-ear sound levels measured by the earphones during test-retest conditions. For the second phase of the study, a single-group pretest-posttest design was utilized. Forty participants, recruited through snowball sampling, utilized the sound-level monitoring earphones with the accompanying dbTrack smartphone application for 4 weeks. The application’s smartphone feedback was disabled during the first 2 weeks (pretest condition) and enabled during the last 2 weeks (posttest condition). Average daily intensities, durations, and sound dosages measured during pre- and posttest conditions were compared. Results: Phase 1 dbTrack earphone measurements were within 1 dB when compared with sound level meter measurements. Earphones were also within 1 dB in repeated measures across earphones and across participants. Phase 2 posttest average daily intensity decreased by 8.7 dB (18.3 SD), duration decreased by 7.6 minutes (46.6 SD), and sound dose decreased by 4128.4% (24965.5% SD). Differences in intensity and sound dose were significantly lower with a small and medium effect size, respectively. Conclusions: This study’s preliminary data indicate that dbTrack (Westone) sound-level monitoring earphones with a calibrated in-ear microphone can reliably and accurately measure personal audio systems sound exposure. Preliminary results also suggest that feedback on sound exposure using the accurate sound-level monitoring earphones with the accompanying dbTrack application can potentially promote safe listening behavior in young adults and reduce the risk of acquiring an RNIHL.

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In-ear noise dosimetry under earplug: Method to exclude wearer-induced disturbances

Cited by 9 publications

References 10 publications

Method for protected noise exposure level assessment under an in-ear hearing protection device: a pilot study

Method for protected noise exposure level assessment under an in-ear hearing protection device: a pilot study

Individual in situ calibration of in-ear noise dosimeters

Sound-level Monitoring Earphones With Smartphone Feedback as an Intervention to Promote Healthy Listening Behaviors in Young Adults

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