title: Review of weapon noise measurement and damage risk criteria: considerations for auditory protection and performance.
abstract: Noise-induced hearing loss resulting from weapon noise exposure has been studied for decades. A summary of recent work in weapon noise signal analysis, current knowledge of hearing damage risk criteria, and auditory performance in impulse noise is presented. Most of the currently used damage risk criteria are based on data that cannot be replicated or verified. There is a need to address the effects of combined noise exposures, from similar or different weapons and continuous background noise, in future noise exposure regulations. Advancements in hearing protection technology have expanded the options available to soldiers. Individual selection of hearing protection devices that are best suited to the type of exposure, the auditory task requirements, and hearing status of the user could help to facilitate their use. However, hearing protection devices affect auditory performance, which in turn affects situational awareness in the field. This includes communication capability and the localization and identification of threats. Laboratory training using high-fidelity weapon noise recordings has the potential to improve the auditory performance of soldiers in the field, providing a low-cost tool to enhance readiness for combat.
authors.affiliation: Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto Research Centre 1133 Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3K 2C9.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.affiliation: Defence Research and Development Canada, Valcartier Research Centre 2459 Pie-XI Blvd North, Val-Bélair, Québec, Canada G3J 1X5.
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farinaccio
mesh_terms: D004430:Ear Protective Devices; D006309:Hearing; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018570:Risk Assessment; D054041:Weapons