A survey of 300 flight deck crews from aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships found that 79% were getting little to no noise attenuation from their hearing protection due to improper fitting or not wearing earplugs. Only 14% reported always wearing earplugs properly. A study by the Air Force Research Laboratory found that earplugs provide 0-22 dB of attenuation depending on insertion depth, with shallower insertion providing less protection. Veterans disability benefits paid for hearing loss have totaled over $7.5 billion since 1977, with Navy and Marine veterans accounting for about 25% of that cost.

1. Real-World Hearing Protection
Interviewed 300 Flight Deck Crews from
4 CVN and 2 LHD / East and West Coast
• 79% Getting an estimated 0 - 6 dB noise
attenuation due to either shallow earplug
insertion or not wearing earplugs at all
• Only Reported always wearing earplugs
14%
Noise Reduction Ratings from earplug insertion depth study completed by the Air Force Research Laboratory using
American National Standard S12.6-1997 (R2002) Methods for Measuring the Real-Ear Attenuation of Hearing Protectors,
Method A (Experimenter Supervised / Verbally Coach), mean minus two standard deviation
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A.
NAVAIR Control #6SPR244 dated 14Mar06.
Approved for public release.

2. Real-World Hearing Protection
• Deck crews apt to wear just a cranial, LSOs tend to wear just earplugs
• LSO inadequate hearing protection likely results in hearing loss and
ultimately opposes their desired effect
- Reduces speech intelligibility
- Lessens discrimination of approaching aircraft engine noises
How would you rate this single hearing protector earplug use?
<25% inserted 50% inserted 75% inserted 100% inserted
0 dB 6 dB 16 dB 22 dB
attenuation attenuation attenuation attenuation
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A.
NAVAIR Control #6SPR244 dated 14Mar06.
Approved for public release.

3. Real-World Hearing Protection
• Cranial provides ≈21 dB protection (without earplugs)
– When correctly fit, worn, and maintained
• Leaks between earcup & head reduce protection 3-15 dB
– By letting noise in the earcups
Things that Reduce Cranial Hearing Protection
Wrong Size Poorly Maintained Clothing Worn Eyeglass
or Poor Fit Equipment Under Earcup Seal Temples
ex: small crew ex: hard, creased ex: bandanas,
issued largest earcup cushions do-rags,
of four sizes & missing foam ear warmers
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A.
NAVAIR Control #6SPR244 dated 14Mar06.
Approved for public release.

4. The Cost of Noise
$800
Veteran Disability Benefits Paid for $786M By the time a
$700
Hearing Loss as the Primary Disability person has a
compensable
$600 (does not include tinnitus or added costs of treatment, hearing hearing loss,
aids, retraining, or hearing loss benefits as lesser claims)
$500
they are truly
disabled--
Millions
$400 Total $7.5 billion since 1977 hard-pressed to
understand
$300
speech when
$200
more than one
Navy & Marine person is
Veterans Account for $100 speaking.
Approximately 25%
$0
77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05
 Keep in mind, these people didn’t suddenly have a hearing loss at the
20 year retirement point
 Have to assume some engaged today in military operations
– Impaired ability to 100% understand speech and radio comm
– Reduced quality of life when they know there are sounds they are missing
 For people who work in high noise environments, studies show only
about 4% of noise induced hearing loss is due to non-occupational
noise exposure like loud music, farm equipment, tools, etc.
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A.
NAVAIR Control #6SPR244 dated 14Mar06.
Approved for public release.