Improving Spatial Hearing when Wearing Ski Helmets in Order to Increase Safety on Ski Slopes

Josef Seebacher (), Markus Posch, Philipp Zelger, Elena Pocecco, Martin Burtscher, Patrick G. Zorowka and Gerhard Ruedl
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Josef Seebacher: Department of Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Markus Posch: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Philipp Zelger: Department of Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Elena Pocecco: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Martin Burtscher: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Patrick G. Zorowka: Department of Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Gerhard Ruedl: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-9

Abstract: This study investigated the effect of a new type of ear pads for ski helmets on the hearing performance of 13 young adults (mean age: 22 years). Free-field hearing thresholds and sound localization performance of the subjects were assessed in three conditions: without helmet, with a conventional helmet and with the modified helmet. Results showed that the modified helmet was superior to the conventional helmet in all respects, but did not allow for a performance level observed without a helmet. Considering the importance of precise hearing and sound localization during alpine skiing, acoustically improved ear pads of ski helmets, as demonstrated in this study, can essentially contribute to enhancing the safety on ski slopes.

Keywords: acoustic horn; skiing; ski helmet; sound source localization; ear pad; winter sports; snowboarding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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