title: Effect of wearing a ski helmet on perception and localization of sounds.
abstract: Helmet use on ski slopes has steadily increased worldwide over the past years. A common reason reported for helmet non-use, however, is impaired hearing. Therefore, an intra-subject design study was conducted to compare hearing thresholds and sound source localization of 21 adults with normal hearing in an anechoic chamber when wearing a ski helmet and ski goggles or wearing a ski cap and ski goggles to the condition head bare. Hearing thresholds while wearing a ski helmet (6.8 ± 1.6 dB HL) and ski cap (5.5 ± 1.6 dB HL) were significantly different (p = 0.030, d = 0.44). Compared to head bare (2.5 ± 1.2 dB HL), a significant difference was found for the ski helmet only (p = 0.040, d = 1.57). Regarding sound source localization, correct scores in the condition head bare (90%) showed a highly significant difference compared with those of condition cap (65%) and helmet (58%), respectively (p < 0.001; d > 2.5). Compared to the ski cap, wearing the helmet significantly reduced correct scores (p = 0.020, d = 0.59) irrespective of the tested sound pressure levels. In conclusion, wearing a ski helmet impairs hearing to a small though significantly greater extent compared with a cap, the degree, however, being less than what is termed as a hearing impairment. Compared to the condition head bare, wearing a ski cap or a ski helmet significantly reduced one's ability of sound source localization.
authors.affiliation: Sport Science, University Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruedl
authors.affiliation: Sport Science, University Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.affiliation: Sport Science, University Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burtscher
authors.affiliation: Department of Hearing Speech and Voice Disorders, University Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zorowka
authors.affiliation: Department of Hearing Speech and Voice Disorders, University Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Weichbold
authors.affiliation: Department of Hearing Speech and Voice Disorders, University Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hearing Speech and Voice Disorders, University Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koci
authors.affiliation: Department of Hearing Speech and Voice Disorders, University Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seebacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012865:Skiing; D013017:Sound Localization; D019876:Sports Equipment; D055815:Young Adult