The study examined the vibration levels emitted by loudspeaker enclosures made of wood-based materials such as chipboard, MDF fibreboard and birch plywood. The suitability of boards and plywood was assessed based on the amplitude of voltage generated in the speaker enclosure as a result of the impact of a sound wave with a wide frequency range from 0.03 kHz to 10.00 kHz. On the basis of the obtained results, it was concluded that none of the tested materials provided consistent sound quality. The most regular and systematic vibrations for two frequency ranges, from 0.03 kHz to 0.30 kHz and from 1.05 kHz to 3.00 kHz, were observed in birch plywood. In MDF fibreboard, the lowest vibration levels occurred at frequencies from 0.31 kHz to 1.05 kHz and from 3.20 kHz to 10.00 kHz, while in chipboard, a relatively regular pattern was observed only at frequencies from 0.03 kHz to 0.30 kHz. The results showed that the speaker enclosure should be a three-way design, made of plywood and MDF, which would allow mainly low and mid-range frequencies to be reproduced. In the case of high frequencies, further research is needed to select the appropriate wood-based materials.

Hearing aids improve the communication and quality of life of persons with hearing loss. Despite this, today substantial number of hearing aid users reject to use hearing aids regularly. The aim of the study was to determine the side effects and complaints associated with the hearing aids as factors affecting hearing aid use. Majority of patients reported acoustic feedback (unpleasant sound from the device) as a main side effect associated with hearing aid use. Second important complaint was poor benefit from the hearing aid. The patients had feeling that their hearing aids did not help sufficiently. Other side effects and complaints associated with hearing aid use have also been reported: background noise is uncomfortably loud, short battery life, poor sound quality, bad fitting, ear pain, fullness sensation in the ears, hearing aid users cannot operate the device themselves, stigmatization, and feeling nervous. Degree of hearing loss is also a factor contributing to use or rejection of hearing aid. Patients with a higher degree of hearing loss wear their hearing aids longer in a day.

The article explores in detail the use of neural networks in order of solve the problem of noise reduction in audio signals, representing the one of the critical problems of modern audio processing technologies. The methods and algorithms aimed at improving sound quality by eliminating background noise, which significantly reduce the intelligibility of audio signals and negatively affect their perception, are analyzed. Compared to traditional approaches such as filtering or adaptive algorithms, neural networks demonstrate higher efficiency due to their powerful data processing tools. Special attention is paid to various neural network architectures, including convolutional networks, recurrent networks and their combinations. These models consider both temporal and spectral characteristics of audio signals, which allows to reach more accurate noise reduction. Objective metrics, such as the signal-to-noise ratio, as well as subjective indicators, such as the quality of sound perception by listeners, were used to evaluate the experimental results. Experiments have prooved that the approaches proposed are significantly superior to traditional methods, providing a visible improvement in the quality of audio signals. The study demonstrates perspective of using neural networks for noise reduction, opening up new possibilities for application in communication systems, multimedia, audio technologies and other areas requiring high-quality sound processing.

Clinical improvement of speech perception in noise with Automatic Sound Management 3.0.

As speeds and directions of a vehicle and wind change, the unsteady flow creates variations in wind noise referred to as non-stationary wind noise. To investigate people’s perceptions of non-stationary wind noise inside the vehicle, a method to simulate the non-stationary wind noise to be used in subjective tests is needed. Previously, a method was developed that used stationary wind noise recordings taken at several constant wind speeds and directions to form functions that relate the 1/3 octave sound pressure levels with wind speed and direction. In this work, a faster simulation method was developed by using fewer wind speed sweep measurements taken at several yaw angles instead of stationary measurements. The sound pressure level functions are used to create time-varying filters based on provided time histories of wind speeds and directions. Two partially correlated white noise signals are filtered to simulate binaural sounds. The accuracy of the simulations was examined by comparing wind noise simulations to vehicle interior noise measured in the wind tunnel and on the road. For on-road measurements, road/tire noise components in the measured interior noise were estimated using noise source measurements taken near the wheels, and added to the simulated wind noise. Eight sound quality metrics measuring five different types of sound attributes were used to examine the similarities between the simulated and measured sounds. In the informal listening tests with some wind noise engineers, the simulations were reported to be very similar to the recordings.

Background: Traditional audiological assessment often does not properly reflect the challenges experienced by cochlear implant (CI) users in complex listening environments. Deficits in speech recognition and sound localization ability persist despite clinically satisfactory audiometric thresholds. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of acoustic environment complexity on speech recognition and sound localization ability in CI users compared to normal-hearing (NH) individuals and to assess subjective auditory performance using validated questionnaires. Methods: Thirty-four unilateral CI users and fifty NH participants were evaluated in a sound environment audiometric room equipped with an eight-speaker 360° array. The variables examined were pure-tone average (PTA), word recognition score (WRS) in quiet and noise (sea, traffic, cafeteria), sound localization ability, and the SSQ-12 auditory quality questionnaire. Correlation, regression, and MANOVA analyses examined associations among objective and subjective outcomes. Results: CI users exhibited significantly lower WRS in quiet and noise conditions, reduced sound localization, and decreased SSQ-12 scores compared to NH participants, with performance declining as noise complexity increased. Pre-implant PTA was the strongest predictor of post-implant speech recognition. No significant differences were observed between unilateral CI users and those with bimodal fittings. The SSQ-12 questionnaire correlated with objective measures, supporting its clinical relevance. Conclusions: CI users exhibit persistent deficits in ecologically valid listening conditions not demonstrated by standard audiometry. Integrating sound field testing and validated hearing quality questionnaires may provide a more comprehensive assessment to guide personalized rehabilitation and device programming.

Background: Tinnitus has been increasingly reported during the COVID-19 pandemic, following both infection and vaccination. While these reports suggest that pandemic-related factors may influence the onset or worsening of tinnitus, the perceptual characteristics and functional consequences of such cases remain poorly understood. This study examined the nature, severity, and communication-related impact of self-reported tinnitus following COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: A total of 770 adults who self-reported new or worsened tinnitus after vaccination completed a structured online survey between August 2021 and May 2023. Standardized instruments included the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ), and visual analog scales assessing loudness discomfort and hyperacusis-related symptoms. Analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and correlation matrices. Results: Respondents reported moderate to severe tinnitus-related distress, with the greatest impacts on emotional control, sleep, and relaxation. Many described communication difficulties in noisy or multi-talker environments, despite relatively preserved spatial hearing and sound quality. A substantial subset endorsed hyperacusis symptoms, including sound-induced annoyance, fear, and intolerance. Correlation analyses revealed strong associations between emotional, cognitive, and auditory domains, underscoring the multidimensional burden of tinnitus in this population. Conclusions: Self-reported tinnitus after COVID-19 vaccination was associated with distress, sleep disruption, and communication difficulties, mirroring patterns commonly observed in tinnitus more broadly. Although causality cannot be determined, these findings highlight the importance of comprehensive audiological and psychological assessment for individuals reporting auditory complaints after vaccination and support the inclusion of functional hearing outcomes in tinnitus evaluation protocols.

This study introduces a real-time shaping noise control approach for kitchen hoods using the filtered-E least mean square (FELMS) algorithm-based active noise control (ANC) system. The goal is to not only lower the noise effectively but also make the remaining sound more pleasant to human ears. Two existing noise control methods, including the filtered-X LMS (FxLMS) based, and the output-error filtered-U recursive LMS (OE-FURLMS) based ANC systems were compared. Both the amount of noise reduction and the sound quality measurement using five key factors: loudness, sharpness, roughness, tonality, and overall pleasantness were measured to evaluate performance. The test results show that the proposed system reduces kitchen hood noise effectively, spreads the noise reduction more evenly across different frequencies, and creates a sound that people find more pleasant compared to the traditional methods.

Persistent discrepancies remain in the perceived far-field noise of automotive permanent-magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) and the predictions of conventional NVH simulations. To bridge this gap, a Tri-source Electromagnetic Coupling NVH Integrated Framework (Tri-ECNVH) is developed, in which air-gap electromagnetic force harmonics, torque ripple, and cogging torque are treated as a coupled excitation system rather than as independent sources. Traditional workflows usually superpose their responses in the power domain, which tends to underestimate the radiating contribution of torque-related excitations and neglect their phase and order coupling with radial electromagnetic forces. In the proposed Tri-ECNVH framework, the three sources are mapped into the order domain, aligned by spatial order, and applied to the stator with phase consistency, so that inter-source coupling and cross terms are explicitly retained along a unified electromagnetic–structural–acoustic chain. Acoustic radiation is evaluated by prescribing the normal velocity on the stator outer surface as a Neumann boundary condition and computing the far-field A-weighted sound pressure level (SPL) using a boundary element method (BEM) model. Numerical results reveal pronounced cooperative amplification of the three sources at critical orders and within perceptually sensitive frequency bands; relative to independent-source modeling with power-domain summation, Tri-ECNVH predicts peak levels that are typically 5–10 dB higher and reproduces the spectral envelope and peak–valley evolution more faithfully. The framework therefore offers a practical, radiation-oriented basis for multi-source noise mitigation in traction PMSMs and helps narrow the gap between simulation and perceived sound quality in automotive applications.

The aim of this paper is to give an account and guidelines to post-graduate students in proposal development on what is expected of them to develop sound quality research proposals. The roles of the university, supervisors, deans, lecturers, and students are clearly discussed. The paper also identifies challenges that students face when designing and developing their research proposals in Kenya’s universities. This has seen the number of students dropping out of post-graduate programmes over the years, despite 2 years required for master's and 3 years for doctoral programmes. Recommendations are provided on what universities, students and lecturers need to ensure the beginning and completion of quality research proposals on time. This involves universities providing guidelines to help students navigate this journey, enhanced supervision and review of proposals and concepts within the required timeline, and students’ commitment to work hand in hand with the supervisors in every phase of proposal development

The ephemeral character of sounds within landscapes has significance for landscape preservation, protection, and design. Sound and soundscapes are characterised by their continuous shifts and long-term changes, which are quite different to any static view. This paper introduces a semantic characterisation of soundscapes for landscape analysis, and its translation into an application for smartphones, Soundscape Characterisation Tool (SCT), to expand and complement visual approaches in consultation and dialogue with stakeholders. The SCT is presented as a place-related and semantic tool and is discussed through a critical review of its practical application in three case studies linked to the Swedish Transport Administration planned works to expand either road or railway networks. Through the practical application of the SCT, this research advocates for the development of a new sonic vocabulary in spatial planning and design that seeks to engage people and make site-specific information available, understandable, and meaningful for all stakeholders involved.

Background/Objectives: Cochlear implants (CIs) are a common treatment of severe-to-profound hearing loss and provide reasonable speech understanding, at least in quiet situations. However, their limited spectro-temporal resolution restricts sound quality, which is especially crucial for music appraisal. Many CI recipients wear a hearing aid (HA) on the non-implanted ear (bimodal users), which may enhance music perception by adding acoustic fine structure cues. Since it is unclear how the HA should be fitted in conjunction with the CI to achieve optimal benefit, this study aimed to systematically vary HA fitting parameters and assess their impact on music sound quality in bimodal users. Methods: Thirteen bimodal CI recipients participated in a listening experiment using a master hearing aid that allowed controlled manipulation of HA settings. Participants evaluated three music excerpts (pop with vocals, pop without vocals, classical) using the multiple-stimulus with hidden reference and anchor (MUSHRA) test. To assess the reliability of individual judgments, each participant repeated the test, and responses were analyzed with the eGauge method. Results: Most participants provided reliable and consistent sound quality ratings. Compared to a standard DSL v5.0 prescriptive fitting, modifications in compression settings and low-frequency gain significantly influenced perceived music quality. The effect of low-frequency gain adjustments was especially pronounced for pop music with vocals, indicating stimulus-dependent benefits. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that HA fitting for bimodal CI users can be optimized beyond standard prescriptive rules to enhance music sound quality by increasing low-frequency gain, particularly for vocal-rich pieces. Additionally, the testing method shows promise for clinical application, enabling individualized HA adjustments based on patient-specific listening preferences, hence fostering personalized audiology care.

Live music events expose attendees to unsafe noise levels associated with noise-induced hearing loss. High-fidelity earplugs (HFEs), a convenient alternative to other hearing protection modalities (foam, moldable earplugs, etc.), provide greater protection without impacting sound quality. This study examines the otologic benefits and factors associated with HFE use, including hearing-related beliefs, exposure history, and symptoms, compared with other hearing protection (OHP) users. Cross-sectional survey. Participants in online music communities (n=2352) were queried. Data were characterized through descriptive statistics, paired t tests, Pearson χ2, and multivariable logistic regression. HFEs were the most used modality among hearing protection users (57%). Relative to OHP users, HFE users were more concerned about the impact of music venues on their hearing and more often cited previous post-event hearing-related symptoms and maintained music quality as justifications for using HFEs (all P<0.001). HFE users less often reported difficulty hearing others, difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, and dizziness or loss of balance (all P<0.05). In a multivariable logistic regression controlling for demographic and attendance characteristics, HFE users were more likely to have a history of diagnosed hearing problems (OR=2.71, 95% CI: 1.83-4.00) and experience symptom resolution [2.38 (1.67-3.40)]. Increased annual event attendance was positively associated with HFE usage [1.04 (1.02-1.07)]. Relative to EDM events, country [0.51 (0.27-0.96)], hip-hop/rap [0.58 (0.39-0.86)], and pop [0.40 (0.27-0.60)] event attendance decreased use likelihood. HFE users more often reported improved post-event otologic symptomology while maintaining music enjoyment. Increased awareness of HFEs may encourage healthier hearing habits among music venue attendees. Level 4.

The article discusses the problems of interpretation of a piece of music and presents a part of an extensive research on 26 filmed lessons, where the emotional expression method is used to reveal innovative possibilities for encouraging creative interpretation. The emotional expression method is used here as a way of stimulating musicality and musical, including interpretative, skills, and self-expression, by expressing the content of a work’s emotional intonations, or the experiences of a “fictional hero”, evoked by the integration with non-musical art forms. In this one alternative empirical experiment we used Emery Schubert and Dorottya Fabian’s taxonomy of expressive features in music performance, which was developed in 2014 and focuses on expressivity in music performance, defines the specificity of interpretations, determines the differences between performances, and allows to identify the style of the various different interpretations. The participants (19 female and 7 male students) were selected for the experiment by means of representative case sampling. The main aims of the 26 experimental lessons were to stimulate the pupil to develop a personal relationship with the piece being performed, its “fictional hero”, to improve the pupil’s interpretation of the piece, and to stimulate the discussion of moral values by asking specific questions focused on the fulfilment of the goals of emotional and ethical education. The results of the study were evaluated by four experts – teachers of different specialisations in the subject of the instrument. The evaluation procedure was based on the review of the experimental filmed lessons and the filling in of templates of evaluation protocols (104 in total) prepared in advance by the researchers. The study revealed the positive impact of emotional expression method on harmonising the music-making process, where traditional teaching makes it challenging to quickly achieve changes in sound quality, dynamics, phrasing, expressiveness, or stylistics; it helped to develop the student’s emotional competence and reduce stage anxiety. However, there were also necessary conditions for the application of emotional expression method: the pupil must have a good knowledge of the text of the piece of music, so that the “technical” difficulties do not interfere with the expression of the experiences of the “fictional hero” used in the method.

A method for the synthesis and auralisation of multirotor unmanned aerial systems (UAS) overflights is presented. The proposed method allows tracking of the spectral features of the recorded sound generated by an aircraft under a static flight operation. Then, synthesised signals for constant speed overflight are generated by applying spectral modifications accounting for the shifts in rotor rotational speeds. The auralisation process includes sound propagation modelling accounting for the conditions of an outdoor environment. Comparisons between recordings and auralised flight operations show that the proposed method can successfully reproduce the audible stimuli of small multirotor aircraft. The accuracy of the auralisations has been assessed based on sound pressure levels and sound quality metrics. The method presented achieved excellent agreement between the auralised signals and recordings for four aircraft varying in size, takeoff mass, and number of rotors. The applied method contributes to the generation of auditory stimuli that capture UAS spectral features in static flyovers and simulate forward flight operations in realistic outdoor flight scenarios. Building on this capability, the presented auralisation method adds to the set of tools available for assessing human responses to UAS noise.

Sound quality research is an important development direction for electric bus interior noise control, and this paper proposes a coherent method of sound quality evaluation, modeling, prediction and active control. Firstly, an objective evaluation parameter is constructed based on complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) and energy characterization; The structural parameters of the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm is adaptively optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) to establish the sound quality prediction model. Secondly, an active sound quality control method based on CEEMDAN and filtered-x least mean square (FxLMS) is presented. Finally, through the training and testing of sound quality data of 64 electric bus noise samples under different working conditions, the acoustic comfort evaluation model based on PSO-XGBoost algorithm is validated to have high prediction and fitting accuracy. In addition, the active controls based on CEEMDAN-FxLMS algorithm are implemented for four signal samples in a semi-anechoic room, and the results indicate that their acoustic comforts are effectively improved. The feasibility of the proposed method for sound quality modeling and active control is thus verified.

Chatbots and other conversational agents based on speech recognition and processing technologies have been gaining ground in the field of language education. Although previous research has shown that automatic recognition of second language (L2) speech is difficult, little attention has been paid to how L2 teachers and learners interact with such technology when used as an interactional participant in classroom settings. Addressing this gap, this article provides a qualitative analysis of interactional practices of unplanned and situated pronunciation instruction as a teacher and 10- to 13-year-old young learners of L2 English complete robot-assisted language learning (RALL) activities in a primary school English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) context in Finland. Drawing on 14 hours of video recordings, we use multimodal conversation analysis (CA) to analyse extended repair sequences that involve interactional problems related to word recognition by a social robot. Through a sequential analysis of selected data extracts, we show how the teacher and learners correct these problems by establishing a corrective focus for providing instruction on and modifying learners’ word-level pronunciation, such as the quality of individual sounds or word stress. From the teacher’s perspective, this consists of drawing learners’ attention to pronunciation details by highlighting sounds in learners’ talk and the robot’s talk, using embodied conduct, and modelling a target-like word pronunciation. Our findings shed light on the interactional organisation of RALL activities and some of the real-life consequences of limitations in speech recognition technologies for L2 teaching and learning interactions with conversational agents. The work conducted by the teacher to convert interactional troubles into meaningful learning opportunities suggests that human agency is needed to optimally guide and mediate language learning interactions with conversational agents based on artificial intelligence (AI) and automatic speech recognition (ASR), as these agents are less capable of showing the kind of interactional and instructional adaptation that is part of human–human interaction.

Bimaxillary orthognathic double chin surgery is performed for therapeutic purposes in patients with occlusion disorders due to dentofacial deformity. We aimed to show the effect of this procedure on sound acoustics. The study was planned as retrospective and cross-sectional. Information about patients who applied to our center due to developmental malocclusion between 2018 and 2020 was examined. A total of 26 patients, 13 males and 13 females, who underwent orthognathic double jaw surgery after orthodontic treatment, were included in the study. Vowel (/a/,/e/,/i/,/ı/,/o/,/ö/,/u/,/ü/) recordings of the patients were analyzed before the surgery and at the 6th month after the surgery. Sound recordings were taken with the Audacity program (Open Source Software). The recordings were analyzed with the Praat acoustic analysis program. Before and after surgery for each letter; Fundamental frequency, Shimmer, Jitter and Harmony Noise Ratios were examined. Measurements taken before and after surgery were compared. A decrease in fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer and harmony noise values was detected. This can be interpreted as an increase in sound quality. A statistically significant change was detected in at least two parameters for each letter. Orthognathic double chin surgery performed due to dentofacial deformity provides an increase in the pronunciation of vowels and voice quality. To increase the reliability of the result, acoustic analysis was performed with multiple parameters.

Acoustic insulation, acoustic conditioning, and noise control, when combined, are fundamental to perceived sound quality and to the suitability of environments for their designated functions. These concepts also apply to acoustic projects for offices, where occupants expect acoustical comfort and speech privacy. This study compares the results of field measurements in a built office with laboratory tests for the systems adopted in the project. It also evaluates compliance with design criteria and project expectations. The field tests followed ASTM and ISO standards, depending on the case. Evaluating the occupants' perception of privacy and comfort was an important aspect of this research. This allowed for a broad view from the design methods to the post-construction results. The differences evaluated between the laboratory and the field are significant, particularly for glass partitions and doors. This difference can be greater than 9 dB in some situations. We could not relate the differences found exclusively to installation failures, and we recommend reviewing the laboratory test procedures. The present research might help in making decisions at the design and construction stage, and in the testing and manufacturing process.

The sound environment plays a critical role in people's mental and physical health. In education, noise pollution decreases learning efficiency and overall well-being. This study is part of a preliminary survey on soundscapes of the Samambaia Campus of the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), in the city of Goiânia, the state capital of Goiás, Brazil. Specifically, the Early Childhood Education Unit (Daycare) and the Central Student Directory (DCE) were analyzed regarding the existing sounds, their impacts on users, and their sound levels. The methodology included sound level readings according to NBR 10.151:2019 and questionnaires on sound quality based on ISO 12913-2:2018, the work of Davies et al. (2013) and emotional states according to Bradley and Lang (1994). The results from the daycare centre indicated that sounds of nature are perceived as pleasant, while mechanical noises are perceived as irritating. On the other hand, in the DCE, people considered human sounds, as both, pleasant and irritating. It is worth noting that this article consists of exploratory data that will guide future research in the area of ??soundscape quality in the Goiânia region.