Strategies for improving speech intelligibility and warning signal detection in communication headsets/hearing protectors

2013 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
pp. 4189-4189
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Brammer ◽  
Eric R. Bernstein ◽  
Gongqiang Yu
Keyword(s):  
Signal Detection ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Warning Signal ◽  
Hearing Protectors

scholarly journals Improving speech intelligibility in active hearing protectors and communication headsets with subband processing

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Brammer ◽  
Gongqiang Yu ◽  
Eric R. Bernstein ◽  
Martin G. Cherniack ◽  
Donald R. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Protectors ◽  
Subband Processing

Estimating the Performance of Sound Restoration Hearing Protectors by Using the Speech Intelligibility Index

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda S. Azman ◽  
David S. Yantek
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Human Subject ◽  
Noise Sources ◽  
Test Fixture ◽  
Electronic Sound ◽  
Human Subject Testing ◽  
Hearing Protectors ◽  
Speech Intelligibility Index ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
The Impact

Despite advances in engineering noise controls and the use of administrative controls, miners are still dependent on hearing protection devices for prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. However, miners often raise concerns about the audibility of spoken communication when wearing conventional hearing protectors. Electronic technologies that selectively process and restore sounds from outside of hearing protectors have been suggested as a partial remedy to the audibility problem. To assess the potential benefits of this technology for miners, NIOSH tested the impact of nine electronic sound restoration hearing protectors on speech intelligibility in selected mining background noises. Because of the number of devices and potential settings of those devices, it was necessary to narrow the choices before conducting human subject testing. This was done by testing the nine devices on an acoustic test fixture (ATF) to acquire one-third-octave-band data, and then calculating the speech intelligibility index (SII) to determine estimates of performance across device, noise and setting. The estimates of speech intelligibility obtained with the SII are highly correlated with the intelligibility of speech under adverse listening conditions such as noise, reverberation, and filtering. The results of fixture based testing indicate that performance varies little between most devices, with few showing exceptionally good or poor estimated speech intelligibility. The most significant differences in estimated performance using the devices were between the different noise sources used, regardless of device or setting. The findings of this research were used to select the devices and settings for subsequent human subject based speech intelligibility testing. The human subject testing results largely concurred with the findings from the acoustic test fixture testing and calculation of speech intelligibility index. Specifically, variations in background noise led to the greatest differences in speech intelligibility.

Improving speech intelligibility in active hearing protectors and communication headsets with subband processing

2013 ◽  
Vol 133 (5) ◽  
pp. 3272-3272
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Brammer ◽  
Gongqiang Yu ◽  
Eric R. Bernstein ◽  
Martin G. Cherniack ◽  
Donald R. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Protectors ◽  
Subband Processing

Active hearing protectors: Prospects for improving speech intelligibility while maintaining noise reduction and audibility of warning alarms

2005 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 2480-2481
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Brammer ◽  
Donald R. Peterson ◽  
Martin G. Cherniack ◽  
Subhash Gullapalli
Keyword(s):  
Noise Reduction ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Protectors

Warning signal detection and the acoustic environment of the motorcyclist

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 415-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Binnington ◽  
A. W. McCombe ◽  
M. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Signal Detection ◽  
Warning Signal ◽  
Acoustic Environment

Development of Candidate New Emergency Warning Signals (EWS) to Improve Railroad Safety

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Ross ◽  
Tom Campbell ◽  
Basant Parida ◽  
Mark Arnoldy ◽  
Tarek Omar
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Response Time ◽  
Signal Detection ◽  
Warning Signal ◽  
Air Pressure ◽  
Acoustic Measurements ◽  
Warning Signals ◽  
Railroad Safety ◽  
Sense Of Urgency

From the original “steam trumpet” built for locomotives in 1832 by the Leicester and Swannington Railway to modern air-pressure horns, train warning signals have not changed significantly in nearly 200 years. The effectiveness of train warning signals has been of particular concern for trespassers listening to music with headphones. The authors have conducted research as part of a Federal Railroad Administration program to design and assess the effectiveness of candidate new emergency warning signal (EWS) sounds. This paper summarizes a literature review to understand the needs for a new EWS sound and principles of audible signal detection. Acoustic measurements were conducted of headphones to understand in-ear music levels and active and passive sound attenuation. Candidate EWS sounds were developed with a goal of maintaining the identification of a train approaching and increasing the sense of urgency and response time for trespassers to vacate the tracks. Testing of candidate EWS sounds was conducted in an audio booth and on-board a moving locomotive. The research results have shown that a new EWS sound can maintain the association of a train approaching, increase the sense of urgency, reduce the reaction time for trespassers to vacate the tracks and improve safety on railroad corridors.

scholarly journals Speech Intelligibility in Noise with Hearing Protectors

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 290-291
Author(s):  
M. HASHIMOTO ◽  
M. KUMASHIRO ◽  
S. MIYAKE ◽  
N. SATO ◽  
N. SATO
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Protectors
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