By LTC (P) Nancy Vause, Ph.D.
The DOD Committee for Audiology Research (CAR) is speeding down the information highway navigated by audiologists or auditory scientists from each service component. Membership is voluntary and thus all scientists enthusiastically seek to provide state of the art audiology research to optimize warfighter performance. Representatives include:
- LTC(P) Nancy L. Vause, USA
- LTC Carolyn Bennett, USAF
- Dr. Lynn Marshall, DNC
- Dr. Linda Pierson, USA
- Dr. Brian Walden, USA
- COL Clyde Byrne, USA
We welcome all other interested audiologists particularly those in LTCT to become part of the CAR.
During the 1998 MAA meeting, Drs. Walden, Byrne and Vause met in an effort to share information about audiology research issues. During that meeting all agreed that cooperative efforts between ARL, WRAMC, and USAARL are mutually beneficial. Additionally, each member recognized the need for DOD collaboration and cooperation to avoid duplication of effort.
Although the 1999 CAR has not formally met, ARL hosted a planning meeting 1300, 27 Jan 1999. This meeting immediately followed an ARL sponsored DOD meeting of Army, Navy and Air Force scientists and engineers working with spatial audio displays on 26-27 Jan. 99. Researchers from ARL, USAARL, MRMC, Naval Submarine Medical Research Lab, Naval Research Lab, Naval System Center (San Diego), Naval Aerospace Medical Research Lab, Wright Patterson AF Research Lab, Coastal Systems Command, and WRAMC were invited.
Announcements are forthcoming.
Our meetings will directly address warfighter auditory research issues among the DOD auditory research labs and all ongoing auditory field research. Additionally, we will investigate the possibility of a web page to post on-going research protocols, projects, publications, etc. If you can believe it, there is no DOD (or service specific for that matter USA, USAF, USN) website that interested scientists, audiologists, or warfighters can visit and search for ongoing protocols, research, etc. I have formally requested the Army Research Office to query DARPA regarding creating such a database.
In the meantime, we could post a research page on this site in which we could post ongoing announcements, projects, presentations, publications. Access will be limited via a password. Conversely, someone (any volunteers?) could act as a gatekeeper and post them weekly, monthly, etc. If this sounds like something you would find helpful, please let me know via [email protected].
Previously, the Military Audiology Strategic Plan (MASP) included eight strategic research focus areas. These areas and progress follows:
R1 – Become Involved In Engineering Technology (Kevlar Helmets, Weapons, Etc.)
We are making significant progress in this area. ARL contacted the Navy SEAL’s Fast Tempo – Low Drag Operational Research Facility at Coastal Systems Command. Currently, SEALS and some other Special Operations Soldiers do not use the standard issue Kevlar helmet. Instead, they wear a Gallet helmet that does not disrupt acoustic cues since it does not completely cover the pinnas. Frank Downs (CSC Engineer) visited ARL in Sept 98 and presented a demo of the GALLET helmet. Additionally, he developed a bone conduction microphone that fits transparently and comfortably in the helmet headband allowing hands-free radio operation. This microphone is being field tested by firefighters in Boston and New Orleans.
The Auditory Research Team is conducting an investigation to validate SEAL and Civilian Firefighter anecdotal reports of speech intelligibility performance improvements in adverse conditions with this and other commercial off the shelf (COTS) BC transducers.
The Auditory Research Team also met with representatives from ARL’s Weapons Materials and Research Directorate and Morgan State University helmet designers to address auditory issues for the new titanium helmet. FYI (A face shield is planned for the new helmet although no one ever considered the effects of the auditory cues!) ART is now working with scientists at WMRD to determine the design of the face shield, which will minimize effects of acoustic cues critical for localization. Furthermore, WRMD and ART submitted a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal to develop a helmet that addresses the evolution of the helmet from primarily a protective piece of equipment to what is found in the Landwarrior helmet design – a link to soldier communication.
R2 – Explore Auditory Research Applications
DOD field audiologists can assist in this initiative. We should establish a liaison at each of the Battlelabs for the Army. The Navy and AF will identify their key field locations in January! Most of the Army’s Battlelabs are located on posts with a military audiologist and an Army Research Lab Field Element. We can and should connect these two folks. Over the next 6 months, the Auditory Research Team will brief our on-site Army audiologists. These audiologists will serve as the subject matter expert for the ARL field elements and make the “audiology” presence more visible at the battle labs. Their regular contact and visible presence will assist the labs in continually exploring research applications with the ongoing warfighter needs and projects conducted at the battlelab.
R3 – Increase Research In Noise Cancellation/Active Noise Reduction
Hurrah for the audiologists in the field keeping their fingers on the pulse of the warfighter! CPT Marjorie Grantham discovered a problem with the new noise canceling CVC helmets at Ft. Stewart. She surveyed units who experienced seal failure and coordinated with ARL and BOSE to investigate the problems with the seals for the new CVC noise cancellation helmets. Dr. George Garinther is the primary liaison from ARL for these problems. Due to her quick response, BOSE and the Program Manager immediately addressed the problems. Replacement seals should be on the way by now for all armor units!
R4- Participate In Research In Hearing Sensor Technology
Auditory Research Team coordination with ARL (Adelphi) acoustic sensor folks summer 98. Additionally, ARL Auditory Research Team coordinated requests from CDC for an acoustic sensor capable of detecting mosquito wing beats (which identify the type of mosquito, whether it has fed, gender, etc).
Submitted an SBIR proposal to develop an acoustic sensor increasing the capability of hearing enemy activity at listening posts. Additionally, development of hearing enhancement auditory sensors is applicable for the mounted maneuver Battlelabs (Ft. Knox) future scout vehicle.
R5 – Increase Presence In Technology Related To Hearing Science
R6 – Develop Operational Modality Programs
The auditory research team is a member of the “RED TEAM” for the Handheld Standoff Mine Detector System (HSTAMIDS) for the Night Vision Labs mine/countermine program. We are collecting and analyzing; (1) sensor output for the metal detector (MD) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) and (2) performance data with regard to the soldier’s auditory and visual acuity (3) the spectral characteristics for the current PSS12 and future HSTAMIDS audio interfaces.
Interestingly, the PSS12 and the new HSTAMIDS detectors use a pure-tone signal between 3000 – 4000 Hz as the audio interface. (OOPS!!!) Any audiologist would immediately recognize these are the first frequencies soldiers lose when suffering from noise induced hearing loss which is also one of the most common occupational injuries in the military! Since the Engineer school has no hearing limitations for soldiers operating mine detectors, soldiers (even with high frequency hearing loss) must easily hear the audio interface signal or risk triggering a mine because they couldn’t hear the alerting auditory signal.
The Auditory Research Team is redesigning the signals to a “user centered” interface. Log onto our weblink at the Engineering School’s web site. You will [may] find a web site HSTAMIDS listening survey! Don’t stop – listen to the other auditory alerting signals, rate them, and help us create a “user centered” audio interface for the HSTAMIDS detectors. Pass this website to all Engineer BNs! Using our listener’s input, we will redesign the audio interface display to reflect a “fused” audio signal from multi-sensor input that is easily heard.
Other projects in the wings include a DARPA proposal to create a free-field 3D audio display in the Command Post of the Future (CPoF) and the Army Battle Command System (ABCS). This will link the audio interface with the same location as the visual display in the command post. Keep your finger’s crossed that funding will follow!
The Auditory Research Team continues to determine the benefit from spatial audio displays in the Command and Control Vehicle (C2V) at the mounted maneuver battle lab. The Air Force is using the binaural communication intercom system (BAIS) which employs spatial audio displays linked to position of aircraft. The Navy is using this concept for rapid reaction SEAL teams.
Bone Conduction Transducers (helmet mounted, head mounted, and tooth mounted) allowing hands-free radio operation for small squad operations, Med Teams, Chemical Units, Firefighters, Aircraft Ground Personnel, Naval Personnel, etc., continue to be a research operational area. ART will complete experiments in the spring.
Audiologists are assigned to the CBDCOMs IPTs and provide SME advice for speech intelligibility requirements and testing for the joint service general protective mask (JSGPM) and the joint service chemical individual detector.
R7 – Become Involved With The Defense Language Institute
Oct. 98, LTC (P) Nancy Vause met with Dr. Lett, Chief of Research at DLI. They are forming a cooperative agreement to explore audio technology in the DLI, CIA, state department, and FBI language training institutes.
R8 – Develop Hearing Requirement Criteria For Military Occupational Specialties
The outcome of the analysis of the HSTAMIDS project may convince the Engineer School to agree to limitations for 18 series soldiers.
LTC (P) Vause was awarded a Director’s Research Initiative to validate the current SPRINT test used for H3 profile boards. Experiments are planned FY 99.
The Committee on Auditory Research is working hard to bring auditory issues to the Army of Today and the Army After Next! If you have problems, ideas, solutions for our soldiers–let us know!