THE EFFECT OF NOISE AND THE WEARING OF EAR PROTECTORS ON VERBAL COMMUNICATION. COMMUNICATION

An investigation has been made into the manner in which noise, as well as the wearing of ear protectors, hinders verbal communication. It was found that when wearing ear protectors subjects speak an average of 4 dB lower; intelligibility is reduced by about 40 percent; and the exchange of information is delayed considerably compared with the case where no ear protectors are worn.