title: Performance in noise: Impact of reduced speech intelligibility on Sailor performance in a Navy command and control environment.
abstract: Noise, hearing loss, and electronic signal distortion, which are common problems in military environments, can impair speech intelligibility and thereby jeopardize mission success. The current study investigated the impact that impaired communication has on operational performance in a command and control environment by parametrically degrading speech intelligibility in a simulated shipborne Combat Information Center. Experienced U.S. Navy personnel served as the study participants and were required to monitor information from multiple sources and respond appropriately to communications initiated by investigators playing the roles of other personnel involved in a realistic Naval scenario. In each block of the scenario, an adaptive intelligibility modification system employing automatic gain control was used to adjust the signal-to-noise ratio to achieve one of four speech intelligibility levels on a Modified Rhyme Test: No Loss, 80%, 60%, or 40%. Objective and subjective measures of operational performance suggested that performance systematically degraded with decreasing speech intelligibility, with the largest drop occurring between 80% and 60%. These results confirm the importance of noise reduction, good communication design, and effective hearing conservation programs to maximize the operational effectiveness of military personnel.
authors: Human Systems Integration, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, 1844 Frontage Road, Suite 327, Dahlgren, VA 22448, USA. Electronic address: marc.keller@navy.mil.
authors: M David
authors: MD
authors: Keller
authors: Human Systems Engineering, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, 1844 Frontage Road, Suite 327, Dahlgren, VA 22448, USA.
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Ziriax
authors: Sonalysts, Inc., 5101 Cleveland Street, Suite 301, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, USA.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Barns
authors: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Sheffield
authors: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.
authors: Douglas
authors: D
authors: Brungart
authors: Sonalysts, Inc., 5101 Cleveland Street, Suite 301, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, USA.
authors: Tony
authors: T
authors: Thomas
authors: Sonalysts, Inc., 5101 Cleveland Street, Suite 301, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, USA.
authors: Bobby
authors: B
authors: Jaeger
authors: Office of Naval Research, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Program, Code 34, 875 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22217, USA.
authors: Kurt
authors: K
authors: Yankaskas
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005133:Eye Movements; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D012767:Ships; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis