Abstract

Acoustic alarms are indispensable in noisy workplaces. The Université de Montréal’s Groupe d’acoustique (GAUM) has already examined this issue and has proposed an ergonomic design for these devices. The research results reveal the characteristics of the most effective acoustic alarms for auditory localization. The study involved measuring and comparing the localization performance of subjects with normal hearing against that of subjects with hearing loss. Finally, to satisfy the specific requirements of clinical examinations, an auditory-localization measuring device was developed. With the information gathered and the new tool developed, it will be easier to evaluate the functional limitations of workers suffering from occupational hearing loss.