Speech Intelligibility Parameters for Evaluating the Perception of Background Noise in Open-Plan Office Users: A Case Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Serrano Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Background Noise ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Space Design ◽  
Transmission Index ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Design Characteristics

This document presents a case study of acoustic analysis in an open-plan office. Since Mexico does not have a standard for evaluating acoustic conditions in offices, it is relevant to compare different acoustic evaluation methods used for open-plan offices. According to several studies, one of the main acoustic characteristics for open-plan office spaces is speech intelligibility. Therefore, the purpose of this document is to compare psychoacoustic parameters to evaluate speech intelligibility in open-plan offices. We analyzed physical factors as reverberation and speech clarity in different office points, as well as semantic factors based on subjective methods with standardized values of the quality of speech intelligibility. The study was carried out under real open-plan office conditions in a library in a university in northern Mexico. The study factors of interest were type of sound, sound source, and location of the listener, with Reverberation Time (RT), Speech Transmission Index (STI) and Loss of consonant articulation (%ALCons) as the measures of impact on intelligibility. This case study provides additional evidence of the relationship between intelligibility and the position of sound sources; also, it was noted that location of listeners influenced analyzed intelligibility parameters. On the other hand, this case study offers information concerning to use psychoacoustic parameters for subjective classification of quality of the speech intelligibility to evaluate how is background noise perceived in open-plan office users. However, it is noteworthy that this study represents a single office with its own interior and space design characteristics.

Impact of Partition types on Architecture design studios acoustical environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. 5847-5857
Author(s):  
Hany Hossam Eldien ◽  
Umaru Bongwirnso
Keyword(s):  
Background Noise ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Architecture Design ◽  
Front Side ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Transmission Index ◽  
Speech Transmission ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
High Level ◽  
Two Sides

Working in Architecture design studios environment requires various activities. Interaction, communication and meetings could affect the speech intelligibility and the speech privacy conditions. Students Areas with a more silent environment are needed with a minimized level of distraction from surrounding activities, while teamwork and discussion areas with a high level of interaction need a good speech intelligibility. One of the more important elements which can improve the open spaces acoustical conditions is the partitions between workstations.The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the acoustical performance of four partitions types in open plan offices; 1.10m two sides partition height, 1,50m front side partitions, 1,50m one side partitions and 1.50 two sides partitions. This Study was conducted in the College of Architecture, Imam Abdulrhman Bin Faisal University, KSA. Based on ISO 3382-3, Speech Transmission Index, STI in the nearest workstation, Distraction distance rD, privacy distance rP, A-weighted background noise level L,A,B and A-weighted SPL of speech at 4 metres L,A,S,4m have been measured. It was found that the best results can be obtained by 1.50m front side and 1.50m two sides partitions.

scholarly journals A Study of the Acoustics and Speech Intelligibility Quality of Mosques in Malaysia

2014 ◽  
Vol 564 ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Abdul Hakim Abdullah ◽  
Zamir A. Zulkefli
Keyword(s):  
Background Noise ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Speech Quality ◽  
Transmission Index ◽  
Speech Transmission ◽  
Rapid Transmission

This study presents the assessment of the quality of speech intelligibility of two Malaysian mosques and the results are used to develop a set of general acoustical guidelines to be used in the design of a mosque. Two mosques were selected for the research: Masjid UPM and the Masjid Jamek. The objective of the research is to enable the comparison of the acoustics and speech intelligibility between the mosques as function of the size, volume, occupancy and other parameters of the main prayer hall on the acoustic and speech intelligibility of the respective mosques. The reverberation time (RT60), speech level (SL), background noise (BN), signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) were determined and are used to develop the speech transmission index (STI) and rapid transmission index (RASTI) prediction models for both mosques. It was observed from the results that the RT60, STI and RASTI values shows better performance over number of occupancy for both mosques. Furthermore, the BN and SL results were visualized using the spatial distribution patterns (SDP) of the main hall. The results of the analysis show that the overall acoustic and speech quality of Masjid Jamek is better when compared to the overall acoustic and speech quality of Masjid UPM. These results are then used to develop a set of design recommendations to ensure adequate speech intelligibility quality a mosque.

scholarly journals Archaeoacoustic Examination of Lazarica Church

Acoustics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 423-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zorana Đorđević ◽  
Dragan Novković ◽  
Uroš Andrić
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Sound Field ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Central Dome ◽  
Acoustic Effect ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Medieval Church ◽  
Transmission Index ◽  
Speech Transmission

The acoustic analysis provides additional information on building tradition and related indoor practice that includes sound, thus deepening our understanding of architectural heritage. In this paper, the sound field of the Orthodox medieval church Lazarica (Kruševac city, Serbia) is examined. Lazarica is a representative of Morava architectural style, developed in the final period of the Serbian medieval state, when also the chanting art thrived, proving the importance of the aural environment in Serbian churches. The church plan is a combination of a traditional inscribed cross and a triconch. After the in situ measurement of acoustic impulse response using EASERA software, we built a computer model in the acoustic simulation software EASE and calibrated it accordingly. Following the parameters (reverberation time (T30), early decay time (EDT) and speech transmission index (STI)), we examined the acoustic effect of the space occupancy, central dome and the iconostasis. In all the cases, no significant deviation between T30 and EDT parameter was observed, which indicates uniform sound energy decay. Closing the dome with a flat ceiling did not show any significant impact on T30, but it lowered speech intelligibility. The height of iconostasis showed no significant influence on the acoustics of Lazarica church.

scholarly journals An Experimental Study of Acoustic Comfort in Open Space Banks Based on Speech Intelligibility and Noise Annoyance Measures

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rostam Golmohammadi ◽  
Mohsen Aliabadi ◽  
Trifah Nezami
Keyword(s):  
Background Noise ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Irrelevant Speech ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Noise Annoyance ◽  
Transmission Index ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
Bank Employees

Abstract Tasks requiring intensive concentration are more vulnerable to noise than routine tasks. Due to the high mental workload of bank employees, this study aimed to evaluate acoustic comfort in open-space banks based on speech intelligibility and noise annoyance metrics. Acoustic metrics including preferred noise criterion (PNC), speech transmission index (STI), and signal to noise ratio (SNR) were measured in seventeen banks (located in Hamadan, a western province of Iran). For subjective noise annoyance assessments, 100-point noise annoyance scales were completed by bank employees during activities. Based on STI (0.56±0.09) and SNR (20.5±8.2 dB) values, it was found that speech intelligibilities in the workstations of banks were higher than the satisfactory level. However, PNC values in bank spaces were 48.2±5.5 dB, which is higher than the recommended limit value for public spaces. In this regard, 95% of the employees are annoyed by background noise levels. The results show irrelevant speech is the main source of subjective noise annoyance among employees. Loss of concentration is the main consequence of background noise levels for employees. The results confirmed that acoustic properties of bank spaces provide enough speech intelligibility, while staff’s noise annoyance is not acceptable. It can be concluded that due to proximity of workstations in open-space banks, access to very short distraction distance is necessary. Therefore, increasing speech privacy can be prioritised to speech intelligibility. It is recommended that current desk screens are redesigned in order to reduce irrelevant speech between nearby workstations. Staff’s training about acoustic comfort can also manage irrelevant speech characteristics during work time.

Long-Term Treatment of Severe Dysarthria

1988 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne B. Simpson ◽  
James A. Till ◽  
Anne M. Goff
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Term Treatment ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Basilar Artery Thrombosis ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Velopharyngeal Function

This case study describes the long-term treatment and changing symptoms in a single subject with dysarthria secondary to basilar artery thrombosis. Initially, the subject was anarthric. Treatment efforts thereafter were directed toward modifying speech respiration, velopharyngeal function, articulatory precision, speech intensity, and speech intelligibility. A variety of treatment and measurement techniques are illustrated. The behavioral change resulting from each of the treatments was small. However, when combined, these small gains in conjunction with some neurological recovery resulted in significantly improved communication and quality of life for this subject. Implications for management Of similar subjects are discussed.

Acoustical Comfort in Classrooms: Case Study at the University of Brasília

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarice C. Daga ◽  
Hetty N. C. C. Lobo ◽  
José A. P. C. Lobo ◽  
Carlos E. L. Melo
Keyword(s):  
Background Noise ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Learning Activity ◽  
Sound Perception ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The University ◽  
Acoustic Conditions

The acoustic conditions in school spaces are fundamental for the success of the learning process. This article aims to present the results of acoustic comfort by the analytical method of 9 classrooms with different geometric characteristics of the University of Brasília. In classrooms the background noise limits are 40 to 50dBA and considering that the teacher’s voice reaches a certain 65 decibels we can highlight that it can be heard clearly by the students. However in an environment with a lot of reverberation of sounds the teacher will have to exert more effort to be understood. The sound perception in a room depends on the intensity and temporal relationship between the direct sound and the indirect sound reflected by the walls of the room, therefore, in the present study were verified two parameters namely the reverberation time and speech intelligibility. The results obtained were compared with the normative parameters of ANSI S12.60: 2010 and it was verified that all rooms are not suitable for teaching-learning activity. To guarantee an environment with better conditions of concentration and learning for the students, acoustic coverings were suggested in order to fit the normative limits.

Comparison of different in situ measurements techniques of intelligibility in an open-plan office

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario D’Orazio ◽  
Elena Rossi ◽  
Massimo Garai
Keyword(s):  
Direct Method ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Background Level ◽  
In Situ Measurements ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Transmission Index ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
Open Plan

Acoustic comfort in open-plan offices is a relatively recent research topic and some practices have not yet been consolidated. The goal in these spaces is to achieve good speech privacy at every workstation, reaching a high value of spatial decay of the sound pressure level. In case of refurbishment, a proper measurement of intelligibility criteria is needed, for example, in order to properly calibrate a numerical model or to plan acoustic treatments. This work compares different measurement techniques to evaluate the spatial distribution of intelligibility criteria. In situ measurements were done in an open-plan office used as a case study. Both omnidirectional and directional sound sources with different sound power levels were used, according, respectively, to ISO 3382-3:2012 and ITU-T P.51:1996. Furthermore, compensation algorithms were used in impulse response measurements in presence of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning noise. The study shows, in a preliminary way, how different techniques and equipment can influence intelligibility criteria used in the open-plan office characterization. Results show that the indirect method of measuring Speech Transmission Index could not be used when the background level is high as the case study while the direct method returns good results.

scholarly journals Acoustic quality assessment in a classroom through simulations and measurements

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (72) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eriberto Oliveira do Nascimento ◽  
Paulo Henrique Trombetta Zannin
Keyword(s):  
Background Noise ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Reverberation Time ◽  
Vocal Health ◽  
Quality Requirements ◽  
Transmission Index ◽  
Speech Transmission ◽  
Acoustic Quality ◽  
Acoustic Comfort ◽  
Minimum Requirements

The acoustic quality in a classroom directly impacts the educational relationship between the student and the teacher, reducing speech intelligibility. In addition, inadequate acoustic comfort burdens the vocal health of teachers. This study evaluated a classroom at the Federal University of Paraná, Campus Centro Politécnico, to verify its acoustic quality. The measurements of the acoustics descriptors: Reverberation Time (RT), Definition (D50), Central Time (Ts), Early Decay Time (EDT) were performed according to the ISO 3382-2 standard, concerning Noise Curves (NC) and Background Noise (BGN) these were evaluated by the  NBR 10152 and S12.2 standards. The Speech Transmission Index (STI) was measured according to IEC 60268-16 and evaluated according to ISO 9921. The useful-detrimental ratio (U50) and the other descriptors were simulated in the ODEON software version 11. Thus, the results showed that the evaluated room did not meet the minimum requirements in terms of acoustic quality, for the descriptors RT, STI, Ts, D50, RF, and NC. Simultaneously, the RT and STI were also outside the limits established by the German and Finnish standards. Therefore, it is concluded that the evaluated classroom did not reach the minimum acoustic quality requirements.

scholarly journals Swallowing, communication and quality of life outcomes in case of hemi-glossectomy: a case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1736
Author(s):  
Bhumi A. Gaikwad ◽  
Jyoti S. Mohite ◽  
Mitali Thakar
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Present Article ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Life Outcomes ◽  
Soft Solids ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Thin Liquids

<p class="abstract">The current article discusses about the assessment and detailed traditional therapeutic management in case of hemi-glossectomy patient. It also highlights how the glossectomy changes have an impact on the person’s psychological status; it is also an important aspect to be worked upon in therapy. With various traditional swallowing techniques along with postural and consistencies alterations helped patient to consume from thin liquids to soft solids oral feeds. The present article also talks about improvement in the speech intelligibility that was affected as a consequence of hemi-glossectomy.</p>

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