Warfighter auditory situation awareness: effects of augmented hearing protection/enhancement devices and TCAPS for military ground combat applications.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of current hearing protection/enhancement devices (HPEDs) and tactical communications and protection systems (TCAPS) on auditory detection and identification of three critical military signals associated with potential "threats."

DESIGN

Utilizing a 6 × 3 within-subject experimental design, 24 normal-hearing Virginia Tech Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and active duty soldiers participated.

STUDY SAMPLE

Five HPEDS and TCAP devices plus the open ear were tested. On each trial, either wearing a device or with open ears, subjects walked along a 3000-foot line of discrete distance markers toward the auditory threat, which was not visible but still within line-of-sight over flat terrain, stopping to listen when instructed. On approach to the threat, the linear distance at first detection was measured, followed by a continued approach until positive identification occurred. Then the subject reversed direction, retreating away from the threat until detection was lost.

RESULTS

ANOVA and post hoc tests were applied to determine statistically-significant differences among HPEDs, TCAPS, and the open ear on the objective detection and identification distance measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The results have serious implications for selection of HPDs, HPEDs, and TCAPS for applications where preservation of auditory situational awareness via the fundamental detection and identification tasks are essential.