Binaural approach to measuring noise, hearing risk, and safety awareness for construction workers
Official title: A binaural framework for the assessment of noise exposure, auditory risk, and situational awareness on construction sites
Funded at Lawrence Technological University · NIH-11304306 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests a two-ear measurement method to better assess noise exposure and hearing risk for construction workers, while aiming to keep warning sounds audible.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lawrence Technological University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Southfield, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $198,761 |
| NIH project number | 1R21OH012874-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11304306 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are construction workers exposed to hazardous noise who may benefit from improved hearing protection and better monitoring of audibility.
✕Less likely to help
Workers not exposed to high noise levels or not using hearing protection may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
Construction workers face high noise levels that can cause permanent hearing loss, and many do not wear hearing protection consistently. This project will test binaural measurements to more accurately capture loud noise and how it affects a worker’s ability to hear warnings and coworkers. The goal is to develop better ways to measure noise exposure and audibility so safety decisions can be improved on the job. The work will build on preliminary findings showing differences in risk when using two-ear measurements and could lead to smarter hearing protection that preserves important sounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to safer hearing protection that still lets workers hear warning signals and important communications on site.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest that binaural measurements differ from traditional single-channel measurements in assessing risk.
Where this research is happening
-
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Samardzic, Nikolina — Lawrence Technological University
- Study coordinator: Samardzic, Nikolina
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.