Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Humans (AHAAH)
Modern weapons and a broad spectrum of industrial machinery produce intense acoustic impulses that can make them unsafe, limit their use, or restrict their design. Recent studies indicate that all current noise exposure standards and design guidelines for impulse generating weapons are seriously in error. To overcome these limitations, ARL’s Army Research Directorate developed a mathematical model of the human auditory system that predicts the hazard from any free-field pressure and provides a visual display of the damage process as it is occurring.
The model is a powerful design tool that shows the specific parts of the waveform that need to be addressed in machinery and weapon design. This unique model is the only method of assessing noise hazard for the entire range of impulses that are relevant to the Army. The model has the potential to serve as an international design standard for weapons and to provide damage or risk criteria for intense impulses of industrial origin.
Software
- Version 2.0 of the AHAAH model
This version includes Power User Hearing Protector Features. Version 2.0 is not for use with Military Standard 1474E: Design Criteria Standard – Noise Limits.
- Version 2.1 of the AHAAH model
For use with Military Standard 1474E: Design Criteria Standard – Noise Limits. This version includes default hearing protectors specified in MIL-STD-1474E.
AHAAH software does not require an installation process and does not change the computer registry. “Unzip” the files into a directory and run the “exe” file.
Notes
- MIL-STD-1474E: Design Criteria Standard: Noise Limits, dated 15 April 2015
- “Using the Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Humans (AHAAH) with Hearing Protection Software, Release MIL-STD-1474E” – An ARL Technical Report that provides instructions for using AHAAH
- “AHAAH Hearing Protection Module (Version 2.1) with Level-dependent Parameters for the Double-ended Combat Arms Earplug” – AHAAH Version 2.0 has been revised to Version 2.1 to incorporate level-dependent parameters of the double-ended Combat Arms Earplug
- “Level-Dependent Non-Linear Hearing Protector Model in the Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Humans” – An ARL Technical Report that describes the hearing protection module
Response to Technical Issues
- An Examination of and Response to “Auditory Standard Issues” by Dr. James Stuhmiller
- Stability of the Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Humans (AHAAH) Model by G. Richard Price and Joel T. Kalb (2013)
- AHAAH Hearing Protection Module (Version 2.1) with Level-Dependent Parameters for the Double-ended Combat Arms Earplug by Joel T. Kalb and Paul D. Fedele (2014)
Scientific Basis for the Model
- Modeling Noise Hazard to the Human Ear, by G.R. Price – presented at the 2001 AIBS Peer Review
- Weapon Noise Exposure of the Human Ear Analyzed with the AHAAH model
- Impulse Noise and the Cat Cochlea
- The Uniqueness of the Albuquerque Dataset and “Evaluation of impulse noise criteria using human volunteer data” (J. Acoust. Soc. Am 110, 1967-1975(2001)) by Chan et al.
- Functional Description of the Model
- Validation of AHAAH
- A Calculational Procedure for Incorporating Hearing Protector Variability in Health Hazard Assessments with the AHAAH Model
- Auditory Hazard Units as an Index of Risk from Intense Sounds
- A hearing protector model for predicting impulsive noise hazard (Kalb, NOISE-CON 2010)
Technical Reports
- Mathematical Model of the Ear’s Response to Weapons Impulses (ARL-RP-0521)
- Level-Dependent Non-Linear Hearing Protector Model in the Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Humans (ARL-TR-7271)
- Using the Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Humans Software Beta Release W93e (ARL-TR-4987)
- Using the Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Humans (AHAAH) With Hearing Protection Software, Release MIL-STD-1474E (ARL-TR-6748)
- Evaluation of an auditory hazard model using data from human volunteer studies, USAARL Report No. 2005-01 (2004)
- Critical analysis and comment on Patterson and Ahroon (2004) “Evaluation of an auditory hazard model using data from human volunteer studies” USAARL Report No. 2005-01
- Current Status of Rating Hazard from Intense Sounds and The Need for an Update to MIL-STD-1474(D)
- An Analysis of the Blast Overpressure Study Data Comparing Three Exposure Criteria. NIOSH Report No. EPHB 309-05h (Murphy, Khan, and Shaw)
- Critique of ‘An Analysis of the Blast Overpressure Study Data Comparing Three Exposure Criteria, by Murphy, Khan, and Shaw. (ARL-CR-657)
- Laboratory Evaluation of the Warned Middle-Ear Assumption of the Auditory Hazard Assessment Algorithm for Humans (AHAAH) USAARL Report No. 2019-04
- The Philosophy, Theoretical Bases, and Implementation of the AHAAH Model for Evaluation of Hazard from Exposure to Intense Sounds (ARL-TR-8333)