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®
VeriPRO
16 Nov, 2010
Attenuation in dB
Real-World Attenuation
≠ NRR
192 users of a flanged reusable earplug ~ 27 NRR
50
NRR = 27 Multiple-Use Earplug
40
30
20
10
0
-10
Retraining
and refitting
resulted in an
average
14 dB
improvement
for this group
2
From Kevin Michael, PhD and Cindy Bloyer “Hearing Protector Attenuation Measurement on the End-User”
“Attenuation provided by hearing protectors
to individuals in actual workplace
is impossible to predict using any
laboratory measurements.”
~ Dr. Kevin Michael
Attenuation can be determined at threshold,
or above threshold
100
100
90
90
80
80
70
70
60
60
“Real-Ear
Attenuation
Above
Threshold”
30 dB
“Real-Ear
Attenuation
at
Threshold”
50
50
40
40
30
30
20
20
30 dB
10
10
VeriPRO allows the user
to measure attenuation
without interference from
background noise levels
Test Sequence
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Both ears
unoccluded
Right ear
occluded
Both ears
occluded
This sets the baseline
level for each ear, and
measures any
asymmetry.
Attenuation for the
right ear is measured.
Attenuation for the
left ear is measured.
Result ~ Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR)
Complete
Check
● 5 freqs in
each ear
● Includes
reliability
checks
● ↑ accuracy,
↑ test time
Quick
Check
Report
Mode
● 1 critical
freq in each
ear
● Individual
● ↓ accuracy,
↓ test time
● By freq.
● Can use
with severe
hrg loss
● Historical
Fit Training
● Videos
8
Headline Here
10
User name
Test Freq.
VeriPRO Step
No earplug
Earplug
inserted
Raise slider bar
Lower slider bar
Adjust the left ear
11
No earplug
Earplug
inserted
Raise slider bar range
Adjust
left ear
volume
Lower slider bar range
Adjust the left ear
12
Headline
What’s New?
Here
Headline Here
Double Arrows
Headline Here
Headline Here
Headline Here
VeriPRO Enterprise
“Client” version
of software has
been
configured to
talk to
“Enterprise”
version of
software
VeriPRO Enterprise
1. VeriPRO Testing
2. Data Storage
3. Reporting
From each location,
VeriPRO sends data to
web service
Web service processes
and delivers data to a
server hosted by
company
VeriPRO Administrators can
create group reports on
several criteria (location, test
dates, earplug tested, etc.)
Enterprise Reports
Personal Attenuation Ratings: Scattergram
Right PAR
Left PAR
50
Personal Attenuation Ratings: Distribution
45
20
35
15
30
Number of Tests
Attenuation in dB
40
25
20
15
10
5
10
5
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
VeriPRO Users
60
70
80
90
100
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Personal Attenuation in dB
40
45
50
22
23
24
25
1. Measures real-world attenuation of any earplug
2. Fulfills requirement to ‘ensure proper fitting’ of
earplugs and evaluate their attenuation
3. On-screen training videos
4. Administered anywhere, quiet room not required
5. Protected exposure level and safe exposure
level calculated
26
Four Internal Quality Checks
7 dB
500 Hz Retest
(Complete Check Only)
Rove
-10
dB
Movement
Attenuation
27
28
29
30
31
VeriPRO Implementation
1. Annual employee training
2. New hires
3. Employees with shift in hearing
4. Extreme noise exposures (dual
protection)
33
Q&A
“Do Howard Leight
earplugs test better
than others?”
“Can custommolded earplugs
be used with
VeriPRO?”
“Can workers with
a hearing loss use
VeriPRO?”
“How reliable is
VeriPRO?”
“Will calibration of
VeriPRO be
available?”
“Why is 500
Hz tested
twice?”
“Why did I get a
Low Attenuation
warning?”
35
Hearing Cons. Program
Most use
VeriPRO to
select and
document
earplugs for
each worker.
Workers Tested
Users focus
on workers
with STS,
extreme
noise
exposures.
Earplug Selection
Through fit
testing,
most
workers now
use a
different
earplug.
Real-World Studies
2007-2009
Field Testing with VeriPRO
● 8 locations
- no pre-screening of workers
● 100 workers tested
● Casual test setting
- HPD selected by worker
- “insert as usual”
- training feedback disabled
Variation from Published NRR
10
Published
NRR
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
Distribution
-30
0
10
20
30
12
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
10
Workers
8
Workers
Difference in dB
5
6
4
2
0
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
Variation from Published NRR
15
20
25
30
Pilot
Study
Pre and
Post-Test
“How well can users predict their
attenuation after a short fit-testing
training session?"
43
Pilot
Study
Pre and
Post-Test
Self-Efficacy
“How much noise do you think your
earplugs block?”
76% (13 of 17)
judged attenuation as
HIGHER post-test
44
Pilot Study
Results
Data show improved PARs!
Initial
Final
RE=19
RE=29
LE=22
LE=27
Average improvement 7.5 dB
45
Pilot
Study
Pre and
Post-Test
Post-Test
Are you better able to assess the
effectiveness of your earplugs after
VeriPRO fit-testing?
1
2
3
4
5
No
Maybe No change Improved Yes
64% (11 of 17)
rated their ability
HIGHER post-test
46
Pilot
Study
Pre and
Post-Test
Post-Test Ability
Initial Ability
Expert
Expert
Pretty good
I do OK
I do OK
Don't know
how
Not good
Pretty good
I do OK
Pretty good
Expert Fitter
47
Pilot
Study
Pre and
Post-Test
Ability to Predict Noise Reduction
(Each subject estimated atten. for each ear)
Number of Ears
20
18
56%
16
14
12
10
32%
8
6
4
12%
2
0
Within 5 dB
category
+/- 7.5 dB
+/- 12.5 dB
(one Category off) (2 categories off)
48
Current NRR Label
Mock-up of New Label