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Convention Paper

An Investigation of Audio Balance for Elderly Listeners Using Loudness as the Main Parameter

Authors: Komori, Tomoyasu; Takagi, Tohru; Kurozumi, Kohichi; Murakawa, Kazuhiro

AES Convention 125 · Paper 7629 · October 2008

Abstract

We have been studying the best sound balance for audibility for elderly listeners. We conducted subjective tests on the balance between narration and background sound using professional sound mixing engineers. The comparative loudness of narration to background sound was used to calculate appropriate respective levels for use in documentary programs. Monosyllabic intelligibility tests were then conducted in a noisy environment with both elderly and young people and a condition that complicates hearing for the elderly was identified. Assuming that the recruitment phenomenon and reduced ability to separate narration from background sound cause hearing problems for the elderly, we estimated appropriate loudness levels for them. We also constructed a prototype to assess the best audio balance for the elderly objectively.

Details

Published in
AES Convention 125
AES Convention
125
Paper number
7629
Publication date
October 6, 2008
Session subject
Hearing Enhancement
Affiliation
NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories; NHK Engineering Service, Inc.; Yamaki Electric Corporation (See document for exact affiliation information.)
Type
Convention Paper