Effect of Wearing a Ski Helmet on Perception and Localization of Sounds

 

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Abstract

Helmet use on ski slopes has steadily increased worldwide over the past years. A common reason reported for helmet non-use, however, is impaired hearing. Therefore, an intra-subject design study was conducted to compare hearing thresholds and sound source localization of 21 adults with normal hearing in an anechoic chamber when wearing a ski helmet and ski goggles or wearing a ski cap and ski goggles to the condition head bare. Hearing thresholds while wearing a ski helmet (6.8±1.6 dB HL) and ski cap (5.5±1.6 dB HL) were significantly different (p=0.030, d=0.44). Compared to head bare (2.5±1.2 dB HL), a significant difference was found for the ski helmet only (p=0.040, d=1.57). Regarding sound source localization, correct scores in the condition head bare (90%) showed a highly significant difference compared with those of condition cap (65%) and helmet (58%), respectively (p<0.001; d>2.5). Compared to the ski cap, wearing the helmet significantly reduced correct scores (p=0.020, d=0.59) irrespective of the tested sound pressure levels. In conclusion, wearing a ski helmet impairs hearing to a small though significantly greater extent compared with a cap, the degree, however, being less than what is termed as a hearing impairment. Compared to the condition head bare, wearing a ski cap or a ski helmet significantly reduced one’s ability of sound source localization.

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