1
|
Vaziri G, Giguère C, Dajani HR. The effect of hearing protection worn by talker and/or target listener on speech production in quiet and noise. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 152:1528. [PMID: 36182271 DOI: 10.1121/10.0013895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Speech production while wearing hearing protectors poses significant challenges due to their occlusion effect and disruption of the Lombard effect. An experiment was conducted with 24 individuals as they read a list of 12 sentences in open ears and while wearing an earmuff in quiet and in four different noises [pink, International Female Fluctuating Masker (IFFM), speech-spectrum noise (SSnoise), and helicopter] at two levels (70 and 85 dBA). An acoustic manikin, fitted or not with an identical protector, served as the target listener. In noise, speech levels decreased when the talkers wore the earmuff but increased when the target listener was fitted with the earmuff. When the earmuff was used by both the talkers and target listener, speech levels were lower by 3-6 dB at the higher noise level compared to when they were both open ears. Speech levels were typically lower, but extended speech intelligibility index estimates were consistently higher, in fluctuating (IFFM, helicopter) than in continuous noises (pink, SSnoise). Talkers' pitch frequency and voice spectrum measurements followed very closely the changes in speech levels, showing no evidence of compensatory voice modifications. Implications of the lower talker speech levels when wearing hearing protectors are discussed in terms of protector selection, training, and individuals with hearing loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Vaziri
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Christian Giguère
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Hilmi R Dajani
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, 800 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Boissinot E, Bogdanovitch S, Bocksteal A, Guastavino C. Effect of Hearing Protection Use on Pianists’ Performance and Experience: Comparing Foam and Musician Earplugs. Front Psychol 2022; 13:886861. [PMID: 35903731 PMCID: PMC9315358 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.886861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Professional musicians are often exposed to high noise levels and thus face the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Yet, adoption rates for hearing protection among musicians are low. Previous surveys indicate that the chief concern is the effect of hearing protection use on performance. However, few studies have investigated actual changes in performance when wearing hearing protection. We report an experiment investigating differences in pianists’ performance and experience with and without hearing protection. We compare the effect of foam earplugs and musician earplugs, designed to preserve sound quality with a flat frequency response. The analysis revealed that participants performed overall more loudly with the foam earplugs than with the musician earplugs, and in turn performances with the musician earplugs were louder than the open condition, indicating a compensatory effect. However, this effect was stronger for novel excerpts than for familiar excerpts. No effect was observed on dynamic range. Furthermore, we observed an acclimatization effect, whereby the effect of hearing protection use, observed on the first performance, decreased on the second performance. In terms of experience, participants reported changes in coloration, difficulties gauging dynamics and articulation, and increased effort required when performing with hearing protection. These effects were more pronounced when wearing the foam earplugs, and the participants reported finding the musician earplugs more comfortable to wear and play with. In conclusion, hearing protection use affects pianists’ performance particularly in terms of dynamics and their experience more so in terms of coloration. But the effects are less marked for familiar pieces and after repetition, suggesting that pianists can quickly adjust their playing when playing familiar pieces with hearing protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elie Boissinot
- Schulich School of Music, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Elie Boissinot,
| | - Sarah Bogdanovitch
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Annelies Bocksteal
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Information Technology, WAVES Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Health and Care, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Catherine Guastavino
- Schulich School of Music, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT), Montréal, QC, Canada
- School of Information Studies, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bouserhal RE, Bernier A, Voix J. An in-ear speech database in varying conditions of the audio-phonation loop. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 145:1069. [PMID: 30823824 DOI: 10.1121/1.5091777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
With the rise of hearables and the advantages of using in-ear microphones with intra-aural devices, accessibility to an in-ear speech database in adverse conditions is essential. Speech captured inside the occluded ear is limited in its frequency bandwidth and has an amplified low frequency content. In addition, occluding the ear canal affects speech production, especially in noisy environments. These changes to speech production have a detrimental effect on speech-based algorithms. Yet, to the authors' knowledge, there are no speech databases that account for these changes. This paper presents a speech-in-ear database, of speech captured inside an occluded ear in noise and in quiet. The database is bilingual (in French and in English) and is intended to aid researchers in developing algorithms for intra-aural devices utilizing in-ear microphones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Bouserhal
- École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Antoine Bernier
- École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jérémie Voix
- École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cantor-Cutiva LC, Bottalico P, Hunter E. Work-related communicative profile of radio broadcasters: a case study. LOGOP PHONIATR VOCO 2018; 44:178-191. [PMID: 30183443 DOI: 10.1080/14015439.2018.1504983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: To explore the short-term effect of work-related voice use on voice function, and noise exposure on hearing function among radio broadcasters. Method: A 1-week follow-up study with the participation of two radio broadcasters was conducted. Participants were monitored at the beginning and at the end of the working week. Premonitoring assessment on Monday (baseline measure) and postmonitoring assessment on Friday (follow-up measure) were performed to identify short-term effects of work-related conditions on voice and hearing function among radio broadcasters. Result: Changes in fundamental frequency postmonitoring at the end of the work week may be an indication of work-related vocal fatigue. Changes in the distribution and standard deviation of SPL during the monitoring from Monday to Friday may indicate control of the vocal loudness as a strategy to reduce vocal effort during broadcasting. During a 1-week follow-up, noise conditions during radio broadcasting were below occupational exposure limits and without noticeable consequences on hearing function. Conclusion: The work-related communicative profile of radio broadcasting, from this pilot study, suggests that although vocal demands in terms of vocal load may differ among broadcasters, the work-related conditions of broadcasting may play a role on vocal function among these occupational voice users. Concerning hearing function, our results indicate that occupational noise exposure represented minimal risk for hearing problems but the consequences of long-term noise exposure on hearing mechanisms may yet occur. Future studies with bigger sample sizes are warranted to confirm our results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pasquale Bottalico
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois , Urbana-Champaign , IL , USA
| | - Eric Hunter
- Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Michigan State University , East Lansing , MI , USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bouserhal RE, Bockstael A, MacDonald E, Falk TH, Voix J. Modeling Speech Level as a Function of Background Noise Level and Talker-to-Listener Distance for Talkers Wearing Hearing Protection Devices. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2017; 60:3393-3403. [PMID: 29204606 DOI: 10.1044/2017_jslhr-s-17-0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Studying the variations in speech levels with changing background noise level and talker-to-listener distance for talkers wearing hearing protection devices (HPDs) can aid in understanding communication in background noise. METHOD Speech was recorded using an intra-aural HPD from 12 different talkers at 5 different distances in 3 different noise conditions and 2 quiet conditions. RESULTS This article proposes models that can predict the difference in speech level as a function of background noise level and talker-to-listener distance for occluded talkers. The proposed model complements the existing model presented by Pelegrín-García, Smits, Brunskog, and Jeong (2011) and expands on it by taking into account the effects of occlusion and background noise level on changes in speech sound level. CONCLUSIONS Three models of the relationship between vocal effort, background noise level, and talker-to-listener distance for talkers wearing HPDs are presented. The model with the best prediction intervals is a talker-dependent model that requires the users' unoccluded speech level at 10 m as a reference. A model describing the relationship between speech level, talker-to-listener distance, and background noise level for occluded talkers could eventually be incorporated with radio protocols to transmit verbal communication only to an intended set of listeners within a given spatial range-this range being dependent on the changes in speech level and background noise level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Bouserhal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Annelies Bockstael
- Université de Montréal, École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Québec, Canada
| | - Ewen MacDonald
- Hearing Systems Group, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby
| | - Tiago H Falk
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre Énergie, Matériaux, Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jérémie Voix
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Giguère C, Berger EH. Speech recognition in noise under hearing protection: A computational study of the combined effects of hearing loss and hearing protector attenuation. Int J Audiol 2016; 55 Suppl 1:S30-40. [DOI: 10.3109/14992027.2015.1129460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
|