Preliminary investigation into the effects of earplugs on sound transmission in the equine ear.

摘要

Earplugs are occasionally used to reduce horses responsiveness to noise but there performance has not been evaluated. A modified 'microphone in real ear' technique was used to quantitatively assess the effects of several earplugs on sound transmission in the external ear of equine cadavers. Significant variations in the performance of the earplugs tested were identified. These results may affect the selection of earplugs for clinical use and should inform the design of future investigations into the clinical utility of earplugs in horses.