Abstract
In this study, we measured the equivalent continuous sound pressure level (LZeq) and equivalent A-weighted continuous sound pressure level (LAeq) during conversational Japanese speech. Measurements were made simultaneously at a distance of 1m in front of the subject's lips and near the subject's outer ear canal, in an anechoic room. Data were obtained from twenty subjects (ten females and ten males). The average LZeq was about 60dB in front of the subject's mouth and 74dB near the outer ear canal. The average LAeq was about 56dB in front of the subject's mouth and 69dB near the outer ear canal. The level difference between the average LZeq and average LAeq was about 4dB. The present results might be useful for establishing test conditions for hearing aid evaluation, as well as for investigating possible damage to the hearing organ in the case of over-amplification in wearers of hearing aids during speech.
