Perception and performance of hearing-impaired versus normal-hearing persons under noise

• Published in: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2007-11, Vol.122 (5_Supplement), p.3049-3049
• Main Authors: Ronsse, Lauren M., Wang, Lily M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0001-4966; 1520-8524
• DOI: 10.1121/1.2942867

Examining the effects of mechanical system noise on worker performance and perception for normal-hearing persons has been an area of previous research; this study extends this research area to include hearing-impaired subjects. The goal is to determine if persons with hearing impairments respond similarly to seven different mechanical system background noise conditions as persons with normal hearing. The seven noise signals vary in terms of level and spectral quality, but are all within the range of background noise conditions found in commercial offices. Performance is gauged on three types of tests (math, verbal and typing), while subjective perception is measured via a subjective questionnaire. The results of this investigation will show if significant differences are present between the two groups, and if so, they may lead to the development of different standards for noise criteria levels in spaces designed for the hearing-impaired. [Work supported by a Univ. of Nebraska Layman Award and an ASHRAE Graduate Student Grant-in-Aid.]