Listening Levels Research Articles

Investigation of Presentation Levels for Optimal Use of NU-6 Ordered by Difficulty Version II Word Lists.

The current work sought to identify the optimal presentation levels for the NU-6 ordered-by-difficulty (OBD) abbreviated word lists. An optimal presentation level would yield a listener's highest word recognition score (WRS; known as phonetically balanced [PB] max) and allow the use of a shortened test protocol. A protocol based on the dB sensation level (dB SL) at 2000 Hz was used as a starting point. It is not known if these two commonly used time-saving approaches can be used in combination to obtain optimal results. WRSs were obtained at multiple levels. The initial level was based on the hearing threshold at 2000 Hz and was either increased or decreased. For listeners with hearing loss, uncomfortable listening (UCL) levels were measured, and a word list was presented 5 dB below the UCL. Thirty-four adults with (25) and without (9) hearing loss, who were recruited via flyers and direct contact, participated in this study. A descriptive analysis was conducted to identify the level needed to obtain PB max using OBD word lists with the least number of words. In most cases, the initial presentation level did not yield PB max and required more than 10 words. It is recommended that the presentation level for NU-6 OBD word lists be at least 30-40 dB SL relative to the hearing threshold at 2000 Hz with a minimum presentation level of 35 dB HL. If this is not feasible, the presentation of these words at UCL-5 is recommended.

Breathy Vocal Quality, Background Noise, and Hearing Loss: How Do These Adverse Conditions Affect Speech Perception by Older Adults?

Although breathy vocal quality and hearing loss are both prevalent age-related changes, their combined impact on speech communication is poorly understood. This study investigated whether breathy vocal quality affected speech perception and listening effort by older listeners. Furthermore, the study examined how this effect was modulated by the adverse listening environment of background noise and the listener's level of hearing loss. Nineteen older adults participated in the study. Their hearing ranged from near-normal to mild-moderate sensorineural hearing loss. Participants heard speech material of low-context sentences, with stimuli resynthesized to simulate original, mild-moderately breathy, and severely breathy conditions. Speech intelligibility was measured using a speech recognition in noise paradigm, with pupillometry data collected simultaneously to measure listening effort. Simulated severely breathy vocal quality was found to reduce intelligibility and increase listening effort. Breathiness and background noise level independently modulated listening effort. The impact of hearing loss was not observed in this dataset, which can be due to the use of individualized signal to noise ratios and a small sample size. Results from this study demonstrate the challenges of listening to speech with a breathy vocal quality. Theoretically, the findings highlight the importance of periodicity cues in speech perception in noise by older listeners. Breathy voice could be challenging to separate from the noise when the noise also lacks periodicity. Clinically, it suggests the need to address both listener- and talker-related factors in speech communication by older adults.

Increased listening effort and decreased speech discrimination at high presentation sound levels in acoustic hearing listeners and cochlear implant users.

The sounds we experience in our everyday communication can vary greatly in terms of level and background noise depending on the environment. Paradoxically, increasing the sound intensity may lead to worsened speech understanding, especially in noise. This is known as the "Rollover" phenomenon. There have been limited studies on rollover and how it is experienced differentially across aging groups, for those with and without hearing loss, as well as cochlear implant (CI) users. There is also mounting evidence that listening effort plays an important role in challenging listening conditions and can be directly quantified with objective measures such as pupil dilation. We found that listening effort was modulated by sound level and that rollover occurred primarily in the presence of background noise. The effect on listening effort was exacerbated by age and hearing loss in acoustic listeners, with greatest effect in older listeners with hearing loss, while there was no effect in CI users. The age- and hearing-dependent effects of rollover highlight the potential negative impact of amplification to high sound levels and therefore has implications for effective treatment of age-related hearing loss.

Examining Force Level Output of Skin-Drive Bone Conduction Hearing Devices in Adults With Simulated Conductive Hearing Loss.

Bone conduction hearing devices (BCDs) that deliver sound across the skin (i.e., transcutaneous) are suitable for some individuals who have conductive or mixed hearing losses. Prescriptive targets for percutaneous devices are available, for example, from the Desired Sensation Level-Bone Conduction Hearing Device (DSL-BCD) algorithm. These targets, however, may require modification for use with transcutaneous BCDs. The current study investigated three key variables that may inform target modification: (a) comparison of thresholds measured using an audiometric bone conduction (BC) transducer versus transcutaneous BCDs that offer in situ threshold measurement, (b) transcutaneous BCD default force level outputs versus recommended DSL percutaneous BC targets, and (c) the preferred listening levels (PLLs) of adults wearing transcutaneous BCDs in a laboratory setting. Bilateral conductive hearing loss was simulated in 20 normal-hearing adults via earplugs. Thresholds were measured using a B-71 BC transducer and two commercially available BCDs coupled to a soft headband. DSL percutaneous BC targets were generated, and PLLs were obtained for a 60-dB SPL speech stimulus. Force level outputs were measured using a skull simulator on the Audioscan Verifit2 at the hearing aids' default settings and at the participants' PLL for each device. On average, audiometric BC thresholds were significantly better than those measured in situ with each BCD. PLLs were similar to prescribed targets for one device with the smoother response shape and agreed in the high frequencies for both devices. In situ thresholds are significantly higher than audiometric BC thresholds, suggesting that device-based in situ measurement more accurately accounts for the signal transmission from transcutaneous BCDs. PLLs differed from the percutaneous targets and varied between devices, which may indicate that either target modifications or manipulations of device frequency response shaping are needed to approximate PLL with transcutaneous BCD devices.

ICF Core-Set Autism Brief 기반 자폐성장애 영유아 언어 행동 평가 도구 개발에 대한 델파이 조사*

The purpose of this study is to develop a verbal behavior assessment tool for asd children using ICF Core Set-Autism Children Brief and verify the validity. Two rounds of Delphi survey on validity of items from IICF Core Set-Autism Children Brief was undertaken by 9 panels who are professionals in applied behavior analysis. As a result, 22 items were identified to be suitable among 48 items. For developmental level suitability, pre-talking and watching were the most suitable items for pre-listener level and listener level and speaker level were found to share common items such as memory function, intellectual function, pay attention, overall psychosocial functions. We discussed about implications that verbal behavior assessment tool for asd children should consider based on the results.

A Study of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Listening Training in College English Teaching

Abstract The rapid development of intelligent technology and its wide application in various industrial fields have caused a big change in the teaching mode of university English listening training. Based on the C/S architecture, this paper establishes an intelligent English teaching listening training system by combining artificial intelligence technology, analyzes the auxiliary role of artificial intelligence technology for listening training, and designs an intelligent English listening training teaching mode based on this system. In order to obtain a diversity of English listening training materials, this paper first utilizes speech signal pre-emphasis, frame-splitting, windowing, and other methods to carry out signal preprocessing and then realizes end-point detection of speech signals through the improved double-threshold algorithm. Based on the characteristics of English speech signals, the Seq2Seq model is optimized by the attention mechanism, and the WaveNet model is introduced to establish a speech synthesis model for listening training. Pre-emphasis can improve the clarity of the speech signal by 50%, and the improved double threshold algorithm improves the recognition effect of speech segment clear tone, and the mean value of speech synthesis MOS score is 4.39. After adopting the intelligent English listening training teaching model, the English listening scores of the students in the observation group increased by 8.21 points compared with those of the control group, and the students who were very uninterested in English listening learning decreased by 20 percentage points. The introduction of artificial intelligence technology can provide students with more diverse English listening training materials, which can help them improve their listening level and learnability.

A Method for Teaching “Safe Listening” Integrated with Early Clinical Exposure for Third-Year Medical Students

OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study is to describe a method for teaching “Safe Listening” integrated with early clinical exposure (ECE). Additionally, the study aims to assess preferred listening levels (PLLs), expected output levels, and classroom noise levels. METHODS Retrospective cross-sectional study. After pre-activity instruction, medical students were grouped into classrooms. The noise level in each classroom was measured using a sound meter application both in quiet situations and during conversations while the medical students were listening to their personal listening devices (PLDs). A calibrated finger rub auditory screening test and a tuning fork test were conducted and PLLs were recorded. The students discussed the findings and rated their satisfaction with the process at the end of the activity. RESULTS The average PLL of the 171 third-year medical students was 59.00 ± 7.38 dBA. The classroom noise level was 49.66 ± 8.45 dBA in quiet periods, and 77.51 ± 10.05 dBA during conversation and while listening to PLDs via earphones. In quiet periods, 97.65% of the students could hear finger rub in both ears. The average satisfaction score after the activity was 82.57 ± 13.14%. CONCLUSIONS Practice with hearing tests and self-checks of PLLs introduced exposure to clinical learning together with awareness of safe listening. PLLs of medical students and satisfaction with the activity were in the favorable range. KEYWORDS early clinical exposure, medical education, safe listening, preferred listening level

Reducing preferred listening levels in headphones through coherent audiotactile stimulation.

Using headphones may expose the listener to potentially harmful levels of sound. This study examines whether introducing tactile vibrations to the listening experience would encourage them to reduce their headphone volume. Fifteen participants adjusted their preferred listening levels for four diverse music tracks under audio-only and audiotactile conditions. Results indicated a significant decrease in preferred audio levels with added tactile stimulation. This effect was particularly significant in songs featuring a strong beat. In contrast, only a minimal effect was observed for genres such as classical music, which typically lack a pronounced beat, at higher vibration intensities. These findings suggest that integrating tactile feedback could be a viable strategy for lowering sound exposure risk.

The Utilization of Psychometric Functions to Predict Speech Intelligibility in Vehicles

<div>In this study, a novel assessment approach of in-vehicle speech intelligibility is presented using psychometric curves. Speech recognition performance scores were modeled at an individual listener level for a set of speech recognition data previously collected under a variety of in-vehicle listening scenarios. The model coupled an objective metric of binaural speech intelligibility (i.e., the acoustic factors) with a psychometric curve indicating the listener’s speech recognition efficiency (i.e., the listener factors). In separate analyses, two objective metrics were used with one designed to capture spatial release from masking and the other designed to capture binaural loudness. The proposed approach is in contrast to the traditional approach of relying on the speech recognition threshold, the speech level at 50% recognition performance averaged across listeners, as the metric for in-vehicle speech intelligibility. Results from the presented analyses suggest the importance of considering speech recognition accuracy across a range of signal-to-noise ratios rather than the speech recognition threshold alone, and the importance of considering individual differences among listeners when evaluating in-vehicle speech intelligibility.</div>

Differences in optimal listening level for voice guidance of self-checkout machines between Japanese and Chinese men and women

This study investigated the optimal listening level for a woman's voice reproduced by self-checkout systems in convenience stores and supermarkets for Japanese and Chinese men and women, to examine gender and cultural differences in optimum listening levels for voice stimuli. As background noise, pink noise was reproduced at 45 dB, 55 dB, 65 dB, and 75 dB. The experimental results revealed that Chinese women set the optimal listening level significantly lower than Japanese women, regardless of background noise conditions. There was no significant difference in the optimal listening level between Japanese men and Chinese men. Gender differences were statistically significant only between Japanese men and women, with Japanese women tending to set higher optimum listening levels than Japanese men. This tendency differed from the results obtained in previous studies.

The influence of tonality, tempo, and musical sophistication on the listener's time-duration estimates.

Music listening affects time perception, with previous studies suggesting that a variety of factors may influence this: musical, individual, and environmental. Two experiments investigated the effect of musical factors (tonality and musical tempo) and individual factors (a listener's level of musical sophistication) on subjective estimates of duration. Participants estimated the duration of different versions of newly composed instrumental music stimuli under retrospective and prospective conditions. Stimuli varied in tempo (90-120 bpm) and tonality (tonal-atonal), in a 2 × 2 factorial design, while other musical parameters remained constant. Estimates were made using written estimates of minutes and seconds in Experiment 1, and the reproduction method in Experiment 2. Two-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) showed no main effect of tonality on estimates and no significant interactions between tempo and tonality, under any condition. Musical tempo significantly affected estimates, with the faster tempo leading to longer estimates, but only in the prospective condition, and with the use of the reproduction method. Correlation matrices using the Pearson correlation coefficient found no correlation between musical sophistication scores (measured using the Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index [Gold-MSI]) and verbal or reproduction estimates. In conclusion, together with the existing literature, findings suggest that (1) changes in tonality, without further changes in rhythm, metre, or melodic contour, do not significantly affect estimates; (2) small changes in musical tempo influence only prospective reproduction estimates, with larger tempo differences or longer stimuli being needed to cause changes in retrospective estimates; (3) participants' level of musical sophistication does not impact estimates of musical duration; and (4) empirical research on music listening and subjective time must consider potential method-dependent results.

The Effects of Low-Fidelity Simulation on Students' Perceived Abilities to Build Therapeutic Relationships.

The combination of nursing student anxiety toward patients with mental health conditions, along with their unpreparedness for exercising active listening, empathy, and self-awareness in clinical situations, creates a barrier to achieving therapeutic nurse- patient relationships. A quantitative quasiexperimental study with a one-group pretest-posttest design was used to determine whether a low-fidelity communication simulation laboratory would decrease nursing students' perceived anxiety levels toward mental health patients and increase students' perceived empathy, self-awareness, and active listening levels. After completing the communication simulation laboratory, students' anxiety decreased significantly (p < .001) and active listening increased significantly (p < .001); empathy and self-awareness levels were relatively unchanged. Using a communication simulation laboratory effectively decreased nursing students' perceived anxiety levels toward patients and improved their perceived active listening skills. The findings of the study support the use of low-fidelity simulations to prepare students for psychiatric nursing clinical practice. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(10):575-579.].

Students’ Interest Level In Learning Listening By Using Note-Taking Strategy

This research aims to find out the students’ interest level of learning listening by using Note-Taking Strategy. This research is descriptive quantitative. The population of this research was 208 students, and the sample of it was 30 students. The finding of research is there were 11 students or 36.67% who chose Very High option, in which 19 students with the percentage of 63.33 were in the High Option. The total score of students is 2534 with the mean score of students’ interest of using Note-Taking Strategy in learning listening is 84.47. Based on the result of this research, it can be concluded that the students are interested in learning listening through Note-Taking Strategy, in the other words, the students are in the high level of interest.

Foreign Language Listening Comprehension and Listening Anxiety

Listening comprehension plays a pivotal role in second language (L2) acquisition, but the process of listening is complex. L2 learners’ listening ability is influenced by both cognitive and affective factors. Among the latter, anxiety is one of the most commonly studied variables in the field of education (Horwitz, 2001); however, its impact on learners’ listening performance is inconsistent in previous research and there have been contradictory findings regarding whether anxiety levels differed significantly according to gender. To address these limitations, this study investigated the effect of gender and foreign language listening anxiety (FLLA) on listening comprehension among 187 university students in China. In addition, it explored whether there were significant differences in FLLA levels between genders. Data sources included the FLLA scale and the Oxford Online Listening Level Test to measure FLLA and L2 listening comprehension, respectively. Results from between-groups analysis of variance showed that listeners with low anxiety listened significantly better than listeners with moderate and high levels of anxiety. Gender differences were examined in two aspects of listening: listening comprehension and FLLA. Specifically, females performed better than males in listening comprehension, and females had a higher level of FLLA compared to males. These results provide implications for teaching L2 listening considering the role of anxiety and gender.

Semantic Context Can Mask Intelligibility Declines at Above-Conversational Speech Levels in Normal-Hearing Listeners.

While speech audibility generally improves with increasing level, declines in intelligibility are inconsistently observed at above-conversational levels, even in listeners with normal audiograms (NAs). The inconsistent findings could be due to different types of speech materials, ranging from monosyllabic words to everyday sentences, used across studies. Here, we hypothesized that semantic context can "mask" intelligibility declines at high levels by constraining plausible response options. Intelligibility was assessed in speech-shaped noise with monosyllabic words, sentences without semantic context, and sentences with semantic context. Two presentation levels were used: 80 and 95 dB SPL broadband. Bandpass filtering was applied to minimize upward spread of masking. Twenty-two young adults with NAs were tested. Poorer performance at the higher level was found with the monosyllabic words and context-free sentences but not with the context-rich sentences. The scores obtained at the higher level with the two context-free materials were strongly correlated. The correlation was independent of the lower-level scores, suggesting that the high-level performance declines reflect "normal" auditory functioning. Young adults with NAs show intelligibility decreases at above-conversational levels when tested with speech materials without semantic context. Top-down processing as facilitated by context information can mask such declines.

Investigation of Frequency-Specific Loudness Discomfort Levels in Listeners With Migraine: A Case-Control Study.

Hypersensitivity to auditory stimuli is a commonly reported symptom in listeners with migraine, yet it remains relatively unexplored in research. This study aims to investigate loudness discomfort levels in listeners with migraine, while identifying the frequencies most affected by the phenomenon. To achieve this, the study compared just audible level and loudness discomfort level ranges between participants with and without migraine from the United Kingdom, Greece as well as the participant recruitment platform Prolific, across 13 frequencies from 100 to 12,000 Hz, through an online listening test. Fifty-five participants with migraine and 49 participants without migraine from both countries and Prolific were included in the analysis, where threshold ranges between just audible and mildly uncomfortable levels were compared in 13 frequencies. Migraineur group participants presented significantly smaller ranges between just audible and mildly uncomfortable level, due to lower thresholds of mild discomfort in 12 of the 13 frequencies when compared with the nonmigraineur group participants. Participants taking the test during their migraine attack or aura presented a tendency for smaller ranges. In addition, participants with self-reported higher severity migraine exhibited bigger ranges compared with participants with low severity migraine within the migraineur group. No relationship between ranges and medication or migraine attack frequency within the migraineur group was observed. Results from the study demonstrate a tendency for the migraineur group to present lower thresholds of mild discomfort compared with the nonmigraineur group, aligning with previous studies while extending the phenomenon to more frequencies than those previously examined. Though the present study presented no relationship between ranges and medication or attack frequency, further research is required to investigate a potential link between these factors.

A subjective evaluation of different music preprocessing approaches in cochlear implant listeners.

Cochlear implants (CIs) can partially restore speech perception to relatively high levels in listeners with moderate to profound hearing loss. However, for most CI listeners, the perception and enjoyment of music remains notably poor. Since a number of technical and physiological restrictions of current implant designs cannot be easily overcome, a number of preprocessing methods for music signals have been proposed recently. They aim to emphasize the leading voice and rhythmic elements and to reduce their spectral complexity. In this study, CI listeners evaluated five remixing approaches in comparison to unprocessed signals. To identify potential explaining factors of CI preference ratings, different signal quality criteria of the processed signals were additionally assessed by normal-hearing listeners. Additional factors were investigated based on instrumental signal-level features. For three preprocessing methods, a significant improvement over the unprocessed reference was found. Especially, two deep neural network-based remix strategies proved to enhance music perception in CI listeners. These strategies provide remixes of the respective harmonic and percussive signal components of the four source stems "vocals," "bass," "drums," and "other accompaniment." Moreover, the results demonstrate that CI listeners prefer an attenuation of sustained components of drum source signals.

Preferred music-listening level in musicians and non-musicians.

The purpose of this study was to establish whether preferred music-listening level differed between musicians and non-musicians, and whether preferred music-listening level was related to music genre preference and lifetime noise exposure. Seventeen musicians (mean age = 29.06 years, SD = 4.74; female n = 9) and 17 non-musicians (mean age = 28.94 years, SD = 4.63; female n = 9) with clinically normal hearing were recruited to listen to six music samples from different genres and one sample of environmental sounds. Participants adjusted the listening level [dB(A)] until the music was loud and enjoyable. This was repeated three times and an average was taken. Lifetime noise exposure was estimated using the Noise Exposure Structured Interview. Preferred music-listening levels of musicians were significantly higher than non-musicians. The preferred music-listening level differed with genre preference, with the participants' favorite tracks being played at 11 dB higher level than the least favorite tracks. There was also a positive correlation between lifetime noise exposure and preferred music-listening level. Musicians prefer to listen to music at higher level than non-musicians and thus may be more susceptible to noise induced hearing loss than non-musicians. As such, musicians in particular would benefit from simple changes in lifestyle and listening habits, including increased awareness of the risks of higher listening levels, as well as the use of hearing protection.

The Impact of Hearing Preservation Education on the Young Adults’ Listening Behavior

Background and Aim: High-level sounds in recreational activities are known as one of the leading causes of developing noise-induced hearing loss, particularly in adolescents and young adults. Thus, this study aimed to explore the practicality of a hearing preservation education program in modifying listening behaviors concerning recreational noise exposure and Personal Listening Device (PLD) use in adolescents and young adults. Methods: Two hundred students, both male and female (n=100, each) between 15 and 18 years old were chosen to participate. These students engaged in the hearing preservation education program and filled in pre-education, post-education, and follow-up questionnaires. The questionnaire assessed the students’ awareness, intention, attitudes, and motivation concerning recreational noise exposure and safe PLD usage. The materials were prepared by an expert panel of audiologists and then remarked as comprehensible by teachers of the target age group. Results: There were significant differences in preferred volume levels and preferred listening levels of PLD, as well as the duration of PLD usage among pre-education, post-education, and follow-up questionnaire measurements (p&lt;0.001). Notably, education significantly altered the students’ awareness, intention, attitudes, and motivation concerning recreational noise exposure among the three experimental conditions (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Providing a fundamental guide and effective education to adolescents and young adults will help them to use PLD safely, expand their awareness and knowledge, and consequently revise their attitudes and listening behaviors. Keywords: Noise-induced hearing loss; personal listening device; recreational noise; hearing preservation; young adult and adolescent

Influence of the Noise-Canceling Technology on How We Hear Sounds

Purpose: This study explores the influence of the noise-canceling technology in commercial earphones on sound pressure levels and preferred listening levels in terms of hearing protection. Materials and Methods: Thirty individuals completed puretone audiometry and real-ear measurements to assess sound pressure levels at the level of the eardrum with and without the activation of the noise-canceling function. The Knowles Electronics Manikin for Acoustic Research was used to investigate the acoustic characteristics of two environmental sounds (bus and café). Two types of earphones (wireless and wired canal type) were utilized in the study. Results: For both bus and café noises, in the low-frequency range, sound pressure levels were significantly decreased for all types of earphones when the noise-canceling function was turned on. The same results were observed for the whole frequency range. In terms of preferred listening levels, the wireless canal type and wired canal type earphones showed significant reduction in volume levels. Conclusion: The findings of the study show that for both low- and whole frequency range, the use of noise-canceling function significantly decreases the sound pressure levels of the signal for all styles of earphones, suggesting a potential of the noise-canceling technology in hearing protection.