Chapter 6 132 Abstract Purpose To perform their job safely and effectively, locomotive engineers are required to detect auditory warning signals in the noisy work setting of a train cabin. Based on audio recordings of Dutch train cabins, we have developed a task and job-specific test for assessing the engineer’s ability to detect the two acoustic warning signals for the Dutch situation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability, agreement, and construct validity of this test. Design Two experiments were performed. In the first experiment, reliability and agreement of the signal detection test were assessed. Normally-hearing individuals (N = 12) completed a signal detection test twice in twelve driving conditions. In the second experiment, construct validity was assessed. We retrospectively identified locomotive engineers, suspected of being hearing impaired, who were referred to the Amsterdam UMC for an auditory fitness for job assessment. All included engineers (N = 83) performed the signal detection test in four driving conditions, underwent pure-tone audiometry and two speech perception tests in noise, and rated the effort and concentration it takes to detect the auditory signals. Seven a priori formulated hypotheses were tested. Results In the first experiment, sufficient reliability and agreement were found in nine driving conditions (ICC = 0.54–0.81; standard error of measurement = 1.15 – 1.92 dBA), poor reliability in two driving conditions (ICC < 0.50), and poor agreement in one driving condition (standard error of measurement = 2.67 dBA). In the second experiment, the results of the signal detection test correlated moderately with the pure-tone thresholds, speech reception threshold in fluctuating noise, and engineer’s subjective rating of effort and concentration, but not with the speech reception threshold in continuous noise. According to the hypotheses, poorer test scores were obtained by hearing aid users compared with non-hearing aid users.
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