SPC Alisa LaPrath
The HGU 56/P is the Army‘s primary helmet/hearing protective device for Army aviation since only the UH-60 Blackhawk crewmembers are required to wear double protection (helmet and earplugs). Crewmembers often report poor attenuation of the HGU 56/P compared to the SPH4 (the Army‘s old helmet). If properly fit, the HGU 56/P is shown to have greater attenuation than the SPH4. As Army Audiologists/Hearing Conservation Program Managers you need to be proficient at fitting the HGU 56/P so that you can counsel those crewmembers with a significant threshold shift and properly re-fit their hearing protective device (helmet). These skills are also needed to train unit Hearing Conservation Officers as per DA PAM 40-501. This presentation will demonstrate the proper fitting procedure for the HGU 56/P