Effects of reverberation on conversation in rooms
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: Sch of Psychology
Abstract
People usually understand what is being said to them, even when there is quite alot of background noise. However, anyone who has struggled to hold a conversation in a noisy cafeteria has some idea that a reverberant room can make it more difficult to hear what people are saying. Relatively little research has been done on the effects of reverberation on speech understanding in background noise. So, our current understanding of how exactly the reverberation has its effects is limited. At the same time, it seems to be a real problem in room design. Some rooms that are intended for social interaction make conversation almost impossible at busy times. This research proposal aims first to obtain a better understanding of how and why reverberation is detrimental and then to apply that understanding practically. The ultimate objective is to produce a computer program and a set of guidelines that an architect could use to predict the performance of a room from the plan alone.
Publications
Culling JF
(2012)
The benefit of bilateral versus unilateral cochlear implantation to speech intelligibility in noise.
in Ear and hearing
Deroche ML
(2011)
Narrow noise band detection in a complex masker: masking level difference due to harmonicity.
in Hearing research
Deroche ML
(2017)
Reverberation limits the release from informational masking obtained in the harmonic and binaural domains.
in Attention, perception & psychophysics
Deroche ML
(2014)
Roles of the target and masker fundamental frequencies in voice segregation.
in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Deroche ML
(2011)
Voice segregation by difference in fundamental frequency: evidence for harmonic cancellation.
in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Deroche ML
(2014)
Speech recognition against harmonic and inharmonic complexes: spectral dips and periodicity.
in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Deroche ML
(2014)
Phase effects in masking by harmonic complexes: detection of bands of speech-shaped noise.
in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Jelfs S
(2011)
Revision and validation of a binaural model for speech intelligibility in noise.
in Hearing research
John Culling
(2010)
Mapping Speech Intelligibility in Noisy Rooms
Lavandier M
(2008)
Speech segregation in rooms: monaural, binaural, and interacting effects of reverberation on target and interferer.
in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Description | We developed and validated a predictive model of speech understanding in the presence of background noise and reverberation. We went on to explore the predictions of this model aspects of architectural design and impaired hearing. |
Exploitation Route | Architectural acousticians could use our modelling technique to predict the acoustic suitability of their designs from plan, or make evaluations of existing spaces. The model has also proved useful in the healthcare arena in predicting the benefits of bilateral auditory prostheses and directional microphones. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare |
Description | The papers have had an academic impact, reflected in their citation. |
First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
Description | Ove Arup Ltd |
Organisation | Arup Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Saint-Gobain Ecophon Ltd |
Organisation | Saint-Gobain Ecophon Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
Start Year | 2006 |