Performance of different types of hearing protectors undergoing high-level impulse noise.

The paper describes the problems that may occur when hearing protectors, usually designed for industrial noise environments, are used for high-level impulse (weapon) noise. The military impulse noise environment is described, as are the different types of passive and active hearing protectors and the measurement procedures. The different mechanisms that may alter the effectiveness of the hearing protectors as well as their global efficiency when submitted to high-level impulse noise are presented. The paper also discusses how the performance values accessible to the user may be used in different damage risk criteria for continuous and impulse noise.