Measurements of acceptable levels, unacceptable levels and uncomfortable loudness levels of environmental sounds in persons with normal hearing

Abstract

In this study, acceptable and unacceptable levels of eight environmental sounds were obtained from ten persons with normal hearing while listening to speech. Their results showed a significant difference among the sounds. Reproducibility of the obtained levels was observed for four repeated measurements. Unacceptable levels for speech and uncomfortable loudness levels (UCLs) without speech were compared. The UCLs to the environmental sounds were about 20dB higher than the unacceptable levels for speech. The UCLs of three kinds of environmental sounds showed a significant difference among repeated measurements. These results suggest that unacceptable levels for speech and uncomfortable loudness levels (UCLs) without speech are different indicators of general listening comfort.