Theoretical and Practical Implications of the Effects of Hearing Protection Devices on Localization Ability

Two experiments on human auditory localization were undertaken to try to discover why that ability is impaired when earmuffs are worn. In the first experiment 15 Ss heard tones and white noise while listening normally, while wearing standard ear-muffs and while wearing earmuffs modified to fit on the head independently of each other. No difference in performance was observed between standard and modified earmuffs. In the second experiment 15 5s listened to tones and white noise in both normal and standard earmuff and earplug conditions. Some impairment was observed while earplugs were worn as compared with normal conditions but not as much as in earmuff conditions. The theoretical implication of these findings is in support of a pinna function, but not wholly. The practical implication is in support of the use of earplugs rather than earmuffs for safe orientation in a noisy environment.