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Your search keyword '"Casali, John G."' showing total 4 results
Start Over Author "Casali, John G." Topic auditory situation awareness Topic hearing protection
4 results on '"Casali, John G."'

1. Learning to localize a broadband tonal complex signal with advanced hearing protectors and TCAPS: the effectiveness of training on open-ear vs. device-occluded performance.

Author

Lee, Kichol and Casali, John G.

Subjects
*EAR physiology, *AUDITORY perception, *AUDITORY perception testing, *COGNITION, *COMMUNICATION, *COMPARATIVE studies, *NOISE-induced deafness, *HEARING, *HEARING -- Physiological aspects, *HEARING levels, *MUSICAL perception, *INTONATION (Phonetics), *MILITARY personnel, *SOUND, *PRODUCT design, *TASK performance, *ACOUSTIC localization, *EDUCATIONAL outcomes, *HEARING protection
Abstract

(1) determine if untrained, normal-hearing listeners could learn, with regimented practice trials, to localise a dissonant tonal complex while wearing electronic hearing protectors and achieve equivalent performance to the unoccluded ear, (2) determine if different protector designs affect the localisation learning curve, and (3) determine if a sequential training regimen could be used to determine whether a device is not amenable to training effects. All subjects completed paired training and testing trials, in 12 Learning Units (LU), first with the open ear., then half with device A, a US Army TCAPS (INVISIO® X50), and the other half with device B (a prototype). Both groups then finished with the opposite device. Ten subjects participated, with thresholds below 25 dBHL, bilateral symmetry below 15 dBHL, and naivety with electronic protectors and localisation testing. Subjects eventually approached their open ear capability with device A, but never reached equivalent open ear nor asymptotic performance with device B. Depending upon a protector's sound transduction, frequency response, and other characteristics, different amounts of training are required to adapt. The training protocol has value in determining device acceptability based on the training burden required, especially when mission-related localisation performance is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2019
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2. Development of an auditory situation awareness test battery for advanced hearing protectors and TCAPS: detection subtest of DRILCOM (detection-recognition/identification-localization-communication).

Author

Lee, Kichol and Casali, John G.

Subjects
*AUDITORY perception testing, *COGNITION, *COMMUNICATION, *NOISE-induced deafness, *NOISE, *MILITARY personnel, *STATISTICS, *DATA analysis, *TASK performance, *ACOUSTIC localization, *HEARING protection
Abstract

Objective: To design a test battery and conduct a proof-of-concept experiment of a test method that can be used to measure the detection performance afforded by military advanced hearing protection devices (HPDs) and tactical communication and protective systems (TCAPS).Design: The detection test was conducted with each of the four loudspeakers located at front, right, rear and left of the participant. Participants wore 2 in-ear-type TCAPS, 1 earmuff-type TCAPS, a passive Combat Arms Earplug in its “open” or pass-through setting and an EB-15LE™ electronic earplug. Devices with electronic gain systems were tested under two gain settings: “unity” and “max”. Testing without any device (open ear) was conducted as a control.Study sample: Ten participants with audiometric requirements of 25 dBHL or better at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz in both ears.Results: Detection task performance varied with different signals and speaker locations. The test identified performance differences among certain TCAPS and protectors, and the open ear. Conclusions: A computer-controlled detection subtest of the Detection-Recognition/Identification-Localisation-Communication (DRILCOM) test battery was designed and implemented. Tested in a proof-of-concept experiment, it showed statistically-significant sensitivity to device differences in detection effects with the small sample of participants (10). This result has important implications for selection and deployment of TCAPS and HPDs on soldiers and workers in dynamic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Published
2017
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3. Effects of low speed wind on the recognition/identification and pass-through communication tasks of auditory situation awareness afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices and tactical communication and protective systems.

Author

Lee, Kichol and Casali, John G.

Subjects
*AUDITORY perception, *COMMUNICATION, *RESEARCH methodology, *MILITARY personnel, *HEARING protection
Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of controlled low-speed wind-noise on the auditory situation awareness performance afforded by military hearing protection/enhancement devices (HPED) and tactical communication and protective systems (TCAPS).Design: Recognition/identification and pass-through communications tasks were separately conducted under three wind conditions (0, 5, and 10 mph). Subjects wore two in-ear-type TCAPS, one earmuff-type TCAPS, a Combat Arms Earplug in its ‘open’ or pass-through setting, and an EB-15LE™ electronic earplug. Devices with electronic gain systems were tested under two gain settings: ‘unity’ and ‘max’. Testing without any device (open ear) was conducted as a control.Study sample: Ten subjects were recruited from the student population at Virginia Tech. Audiometric requirements were 25 dBHL or better at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz in both ears.Results: Performance on the interaction of communication task-by-device was significantly different only in 0 mph wind speed. The between-device performance differences varied with azimuthal speaker locations.Conclusions: It is evident from this study that stable (non-gusting) wind speeds up to 10 mph did not significantly degrade recognition/identification task performance and pass-through communication performance of the group of HPEDs and TCAPS tested. However, the various devices performed differently as the test sound signal speaker location was varied and it appears that physical as well as electronic features may have contributed to this directional result. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Published
2016
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4. Evaluation of an Auditory Localization Training System for Use in Portable Configurations: Variables, Metrics, and Protocol

Author

Cave, Kara Meghan, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Casali, John G., Gabbard, Joseph L., Kleiner, Brian M., Lee, Kichol, and Casto, Kristen Lee

Subjects
Auditory Training, Hearing Protection, Noise Exposure, education, Auditory Situation Awareness, Auditory Localization
Abstract

Hearing protection can mitigate the harmful effects of noise, but for Service Members these devices can also obscure auditory situation awareness cues. Tactical Communication and Protective Systems (TCAPS) can restore critical cues through electronic circuitry with varying effects on localization. Evidenced by past research, sound localization accuracy can improve with training. The investigator hypothesized that training with a broadband stimulus and reducing the number of presentations would result in training transfer. Additionally, training transfer would occur with implementation of more user-engaged training strategies. The purpose of the experiments described in this study was to develop an optimized auditory azimuth-training protocol for use in a field-validated portable training system sensitive to differences among different TCAPS. A series of indoor experiments aimed to shorten and optimize a pre-existing auditory localization training protocol. Sixty-four normal-hearing participants underwent localization training. The goal of training optimization included the following objectives: 1) evaluate the effects of reducing stimulus presentations; 2) evaluate the effects of training with a broadband stimulus (but testing on untrained military-relevant stimuli); and 3) evaluate performance differences according to training strategies. Twenty-four (12 trained and 12 untrained) normal-hearing listeners participated in the field-validation experiment. The experiment evaluated localization training transfer from the indoor portable system to live-fire blanks in field. While training conducted on the portable system was predicted to transfer to the field, differences emerged between an in-the-ear and over-the-ear TCAPS. Three of four untrained stimuli showed evidence of training transfer. Shortening the training protocol also resulted in training transfer, but manipulating training strategies did not. A comparison of changes in localization scores from the indoor pretest to the field posttest demonstrated significant differences among listening conditions. Training improved accuracy and response time for the open ear and one of two TCAPS. Posttest differences between the two TCAPS were not statistically significant. Despite training, localization with TCAPS never matched the open ear. The portable apparatus employed in this study offers a means to evaluate the effects of TCAPS on localization. Equipped with a known effect on localization, TCAPS users can render informed decisions on the benefits or risk associated with certain devices. Doctor of Philosophy Hearing protection can mitigate the harmful effects of noise, but for Service Members these devices can obscure auditory situation awareness cues. Certain powered hearing protection can restore critical cues through electronic circuitry with varying effects on localization. Evidenced by past research, sound localization accuracy can improve with training. The investigator hypothesized that training with a broadband stimulus and reducing the number of presentations would result in auditory learning. Additionally, implementing more user-engaged training strategies would demonstrate more auditory learning. The purpose of the experiments described in this study was to develop an optimized auditory azimuth-training protocol for use in a field-validated training system sensitive to differences among active hearing protection. A series of indoor experiments aimed to shorten and optimize a pre-existing auditory localization training protocol. Sixty-four normal-hearing participants underwent localization training. The goal of training optimization included the following objectives: 1) evaluate the effects of reducing stimulus presentations; 2) evaluate the effects of training with a broadband stimulus (but testing on untrained military-relevant stimuli); and 3) evaluate performance differences in localization performance according to training strategies. In the field-validation study, 12 trained and 12 untrained normal-hearing listeners participated. The experiment evaluated localization learning from the indoor portable training system to live-fire blanks in a field. Training conducted on the portable system was predicted to transfer to the field, but differences would emerge between an in-the-ear and an over-the-ear TCAPS. Three of four untrained stimuli showed evidence of localization learning. Shortening the protocol also resulted in localization learning, but manipulating training strategies did not. A comparison of changes in localization scores from the indoor pretest to the field posttest demonstrated significant differences among listening conditions. Training improved performance for the open ear and one of two active hearing protectors. Posttest differences between the two devices were not significant. Despite training, performance with hearing protection never equaled the open ear. The portable apparatus employed in this study offers a means to evaluate the effects of hearing protection on localization. Knowing the effects of hearing protection on localization apprises users of the benefits and/or risk associated with the use of certain devices.

Published
2020

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