Comparison of Acceptable Noise Levels Using Korean and Non-Semantic Speech Signals in Normal Hearing Subjects.
10.3342/kjorl-hns.2017.00542
- Author:
Seon Geum KIM
1
;
Kyung Jin ROH
;
Ah Young PARK
;
Byung Il CHOI
;
Seong Ah HONG
;
Jae Hee LEE
;
Eun Jin SON
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ejson@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Acceptable noise level;
Most comfortable level
- MeSH:
Adult;
Female;
Hearing*;
Humans;
Male;
Methods;
Noise*;
Semantics
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2017;60(12):614-620
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The acceptable noise level (ANL) test measures the maximum noise level that a subject can tolerate while following speech. Given the limited investigation of ANL across different languages, this study aimed to compare ANLs using both Korean semantic speech and non-semantic speech signals (reversed Korean speech and international speech test signal, ISTS) in normal-hearing subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Twenty-five subjects with normal hearing (9 males, 16 females, with the mean age of 28.5±3.15 years) were included in the study. ANLs were obtained using three speech materials (Korean speech, reversed Korean speech, and ISTS) as the target speech material and an eight-talker babble noise as the competing background noise. RESULTS: Generally, the inter-subject variability was large. The ANLs did not differ statistically regardless of the type of speech signal. CONCLUSION: The ANLs seemed to be unaffected by the meaningfulness or semantic contents of the target speech, at least in normal-hearing adults. Thus, non-meaningful speech signals or non-semantic material can be considered as the target signal for the implementation of ANL test.
