| 1. |
- Thorslund, Birgitta, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Cognitive workload and driving behavior in persons with hearing loss
- 2013
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Ingår i: Transportation Research Part F. - : Elsevier BV. - 1369-8478 .- 1873-5517. ; 21, s. 113-121
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To compare the effect of cognitive workload in individuals with and without hearing loss, respectively, in driving situations with varying degree of complexity.Methods: 24 participants with moderate hearing loss (HL) and 24 with normal hearing (NH) experienced three different driving conditions: Baseline driving; Critical events with a need to act fast; and a Parked car event with the possibility to adapt the workload to the situation. Additionally, a Secondary task (observation and recalling of 4 visually displayed letters) was present during the drive, with two levels of difficulty in terms of load on the phonological loop. A tactile signal, presented by means of a vibration in the seat, was used to announce the Secondary task and thereby simultaneously evaluated in terms of effectiveness when calling for driver attention. Objective driver behavior measures (M and SD of driving speed, M and SD of lateral position, time to line crossing) were accompanied by subjective ratings during and after the test drive.Results: HL had no effect on driving behavior at Baseline driving, where no events occurred. Both during Secondary task and at the Parked car event HL was associated with decreased mean driving speed compared to baseline driving. The effect of HL on the Secondary task performance, both at Baseline driving and at the lower Difficulty Level at Critical events, was more skipped letters and fewer correctly recalled letters. At Critical events, task difficulty affected participants with HL more. Participants were generally positive to use vibrations in the seat as a means for announcing the Secondary task.Conclusions: Differences in terms of driving behavior and task performance related to HL appear when the driving complexity exceeds Baseline driving either in the driving task, Secondary task or a combination of both. This leads to a more cautious driving behavior with a decreased mean driving speed and less focus on the Secondary task, which could be a way of compensating for the increasing driving complexity. Seat vibration was found to be a feasible way to alert drivers with or without HL.
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| 2. |
- Thorslund, Birgitta, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Cognitive workload and visual behavior in elderly drivers with hearing loss
- 2014
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Ingår i: European Transport Research Review. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1867-0717 .- 1866-8887. ; 6:4, s. 377-385
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose was to examine eye tracking data and compare visual behavior in individuals with normal hearing (NH) and with moderate hearing loss (HL) during two types of driving conditions: normal driving and driving while performing a secondary task.Methods24 participants with HL and 24 with NH were exposed to normal driving and to driving with a secondary task (observation and recall of 4 visually displayed letters). Eye movement behavior was assessed during normal driving by the following performance indicators: number of glances away from the road; mean duration of glances away from the road; maximum duration of glances away from the road; and percentage of time looking at the road. During driving with the secondary task, eye movement data were assessed in terms of number of glances to the secondary task display, mean duration of glances to the secondary task display, and maximum duration of glances to the secondary task display. The secondary task performance was assessed as well, counting the number of correct letters, the number of skipped letters, and the number of correct letters ignoring order.ResultsWhile driving with the secondary task, drivers with HL looked twice as often in the rear-view mirror than during normal driving and twice as often as drivers with NH regardless of condition. During secondary task, the HL group looked away from the road more frequently but for shorter durations than the NH group. Drivers with HL had fewer correct letters and more skipped letters than drivers with NH.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Thorslund, Birgitta, 1976-
(författare)
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Effects of hearing loss on traffic safety and mobility
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this PhD thesis was to investigate traffic safety and mobility for individuals with hearing loss (HL). Three studies were conducted: 1. a questionnaire survey aimed to evaluate differences in choice of transportation that might be related to HL, 2. a driving simulator study that looked into compensatory strategies and evaluated the efficiency of a tactile signal to alert the driver, and 3. a field study to evaluate these effects in real traffic and to evaluate a navigation system with a supportive tactile signal. The effects of HL discovered in this thesis add to the knowledge and understanding of the influence of HL on traffic safety and mobility. Differences found consistently point to a generally more cautious behavior. Compensatory and coping strategies associated with HL are bound to driving complexity and appear when complexity increases. These strategies include driving at lower speeds, using a more comprehensive visual search behavior and being less engaged in distracting activities. Evaluation of a tactile signal showed that by adding a tactile modality, some driver assistance systems can also be made accessible to drivers with HL. At the same time, the systems might be more effective for all users, since the driver can be more focused on the road. Based on the results in this thesis, drivers with HL cannot be considered an increased traffic safety risk, and there should be no need for adjustments of the requirements of hearing for a license to drive a car.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Thorslund, Birgitta, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Hearing loss and a supportive tactile signal in a navigation system : Effects on driving behavior and eye movements
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Eye Movement Research. - : INT GROUP EYE MOVEMENT RESEARCH. - 1995-8692. ; 6:5, s. 1-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An on-road study was conducted to evaluate a complementary tactile navigation signal on driving behaviour and eye movements for drivers with hearing loss (HL) compared to drivers with normal hearing (NH). 32 participants (16 HL and 16 NH) performed two preprogrammed navigation tasks. In one, participants received only visual information, while the other also included a vibration in the seat to guide them in the correct direction. SMI glasses were used for eye tracking, recording the point of gaze within the scene. Analysis was performed on predefined regions. A questionnaire examined participant's experience of the navigation systems. Hearing loss was associated with lower speed, higher satisfaction with the tactile signal and more glances in the rear view mirror. Additionally, tactile support led to less time spent viewing the navigation display.
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| 7. |
- Thorslund, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Hearing Loss and transport
- 2011
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Research regarding importance of auditory information in traffic situations is limited and not very up to date. Studies performed in several countries around 1980 state that hearing disorders or deafness should not be an exclusion criterion for driver’s license, since individuals with hearing loss are not considered as an increased risk to traffic safety. Research made tend to answer the question if road users with hearing loss pose a higher risk than road users with normal hearing. Possible risks which road users with a hearing disorder are exposed to have not yet been investigated. According to brief discussions with individuals with hearing loss, concerns include; signing while driving, trying to speech read passenger while driving, hearing emergency sirens, knowing the direction from which a sound is coming, hearing seatbelt warning or other warnings your car may give.Hearing loss is often age related. With longer life length and increasing transport habits of older people, the proportion of older road users (and road users with hearing loss) increase. Furthermore, support systems in cars tend to use auditory signals for warnings, which make them less accessible for users with hearing disorders. Other modalities for warning signals (light or vibration) could be a solution. Auditory information is an issue also for road users with normal hearing; cars tend to be more silent and could therefore be hard to notice for vulnerable road users, bicycle riders with music players more or less isolate themselves from surrounding impressions. This presentation invites to a discussion regarding traffic situations where auditory information is important and how support could be given if necessary.
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| 8. |
- Thorslund, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Hearing loss and transport
- 2012
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Ingår i: TRANSED 2012: 13th international conference on mobility and transport for elderly and disabled persons. - New Delhi : Svayam. ; , s. 1-9
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The objective of this study was to examine through a questionnaire how road users with different degree of hearing loss experience safety and mobility in transport situations compared to road users without hearing loss.Participants were recruited from the local branch of HRF (The Swedish hard of hearing society). A control group without any known hearing loss, matched on age, gender and geographical location, was selected from a commercial database. The individuals with hearing loss were grouped into four groups according the degree of their hearing-loss (mild, moderate, severe and profound).The results revealed that hearing loss affects some specific aspects regarding transport habits, while others remain unaffected. Individuals with hearing loss are not as likely to have a driving license, but for those who have, hearing loss has no effect on mileage per year. Loss of hearing has an effect on criteria for choosing transportation, but the use of each transportation mode is unaffected. With a few exceptions, hearing loss does not affect the ratings of importance of hearing for different transportation modes. Degree of hearing loss affects most questions regarding hearing in relation to driver abilities, while avoidance of specific traffic situations or environments is only associated with hearing loss in specific situations. Hearing loss has only minor effect on the factors causing inattention when driving and on the interest in a warning system for driver inattention. Preliminary results from open questions point at a general wish for more and complimentary information in all transportation modes, thru texted information, light warnings, traffic light in all crossings etc.It can be concluded that hearing loss influences the prevalence of driving license and criteria for choosing transportation mode. However hearing loss had no effect on the travelling frequency independent of mode. Respondents with profound hearing loss were less concerned about hearing loss with respect to travelling, indicating a coping strategy. This suggests further research on coping strategies and on design of support systems accessible for drivers with hearing loss.
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| 9. |
- Thorslund, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Hörselnedsättning, trafiksäkerhet och mobilitet : En enkätstudie
- 2012
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objective: To examine how road users with different degree of hearing loss experience safety and mobility in transport situations compared to road users without hearing loss.Methods: The participants were recruited from the local branch of HRF. A hearing control group, matched on age, gender and geographical location, was selected from a commercial database. The individuals with hearing hearing-loss were grouped into four groups according the degree of their hearing-loss.Results: Hearing loss affects some specific aspects regarding transport situations, while others remain unaffected. Individuals with hearing loss are not as likely to have a driving license, but for those who have, hearing loss has no effect on mileage per year. Loss of hearing has an effect on criteria for choosing transportation, but the use of each transportation mode is unaffected. Degree of hearing loss affects most questions regarding hearing in relation to driver abilities, while avoidance of specific traffic situations or environments is only associated with hearing loss in specific situations. Hearing loss has only minor effect on the factors causing inattention when driving and on the interest in a warning system for driver inattention. The general interest in a warning system for driver inattention is high.Conclusions: Hearing loss influences the prevalence of driving license and criteria for choosing transportation, however has no effect on the frequency of any transportation mode. In general, in this study, respondents with profound hearing loss are less concerned, indicating that they might be coping. The interest in warning system for inattention and the attitude towards strengthening of auditory information in traffic situations is high regardless of hearing category. This suggests further research on coping strategies and on design of support systems accessible for drivers with hearing loss.
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| 10. |
- Thorslund, Birgitta, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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The influence of hearing loss on transport safety and mobility
- 2013
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Ingår i: European Transport Research Review. - : Springer. - 1867-0717 .- 1866-8887. ; 5:3, s. 117-127
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To examine how road users with different degree of hearing loss experience safety and mobility in transport situations, compared to road users with normal hearing.Methods: A questionnaire study was conducted with participants recruited from the local branch of The Swedish hard of hearing society. A normal hearing control group, matched on age, gender and geographical location, was selected from a commercial database. The response rate was 35% (n = 194) in the group with Hearing Loss (HL) and 42% (n = 125) in the group with Normal Hearing (NH). The individuals with hearing loss were grouped into four groups according to the degree of their hearing loss (mild, moderate, severe and profound).Results: Hearing loss affected some specific aspects regarding transport situations, while others remained unaffected. Individuals with hearing loss were not as likely to have a driving license, but for those who have, hearing loss had no effect on mileage per year. Loss of hearing had an effect on criteria for choosing mode of transportation, but in the aggregate, no difference between the groups could be shown in the distribution of how much each mode of transportation was used. With a few exceptions, hearing loss did not affect the ratings of importance of hearing for different transportation modes. Hearing loss affected most questions regarding hearing and driver abilities, while avoidance of specific traffic situations was not associated with hearing loss. Hearing loss had only minor effects on the factors causing inattention when driving, and on the interest in a warning system for driver inattention. The interest in a warning system for driver inattention was high regardless of hearing category.Conclusions: Hearing loss influences the prevalence of driving license and criteria for choosing mode of transportation, however has no effect on the distribution of how much each mode of transportation was used. In general, in this study, respondents with higher degree of hearing loss were less concerned about the effect of hearing loss, indicating that they might be using coping strategies. The interest in warning system for inattention and the attitude towards strengthening of auditory information in traffic situations is high regardless of hearing category. This suggests further research on coping strategies and on design of support systems accessible for drivers with hearing loss.
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