by Navy Medicine | 19 August 2014 GROTON, Conn., ? After a visit by the Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE) to the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) in April, the transition process is ramping up for the Military Hearing Preservation (MHP) Training Kit. During the visit, initial discussions were held as to a path that will bring the MHP Training Kit out of the developmental phase and into the implementation phase. Subsequent discussions between stakeholders from HCE, NSMRL and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) have been held as the plan continues to take shape. The MHP Training Kit contains a set of software-based educational tools specifically designed for hearing conservation program managers and technicians providing training. It is designed to be flexible in its use both in the number of people trained at a given time and the location of training ? in the office or in the field. [caption id="attachment_947" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The Hearing Preservation Training Kit, developed by Sensimetrics, Inc., incorporates interactive components into educational activities with demonstrations of auditory injury (Photo courtesy of NSMRL Public Affairs). The MHP Training Kit incorporates interactive components into educational activities with demonstrations of auditory injury ? hearing loss and/or tinnitus. One component contains examples of speech, music, and military scenarios that can be altered in real-time so the audience can experience the effects of simulations on communication. Another component is comprised of small segments of audiovisual informational course material. These segments can be combined in a modular fashion to form presentations that can be used in training briefs or audiological counseling sessions. Using the MHP Training Kit reinforces the need to preserve and protect service member?s hearing. Its intent is to motivate the service members to protect their hearing and intervene on behalf of others. Previous iterations of the MHP Training Kit reviewed at development meetings were well received by military audiologists. Military audiologists evaluated the current version of the kit within their practice and provided positive preliminary results. The field evaluation is in its final stages. The final report is expected to be available later this year. Development of the MHP Training Kit was completed by Sensimetrics, Inc. from Boston, and has been overseen by Dr. Lynne Marshall of NSMRL with funding provided by ONR.