Date of Award
2008
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Supervisor
Dr. Margaret Cheesman
Abstract
Portable audio devices are frequently used in loud background noises (such as street noise). In such situations, listeners increase volume levels in order to maintain an adequate music-to-noise ratio. This study assessed the preferred listening levels and the ability to detect and spatially localize an environmental sound (a horn honk) while listening to an MP3 player in two background noise conditions (ambient room noise and 70 dBA traffic noise).
Participants were 20 normal hearing young adults who regularly used MP3 players to listen to music. Real-ear measures of preferred listening levels and a localization task were conducted in these listening situations with three different headphones as well as in an open ear condition.
On average, listeners increased the music levels by 28 dB in the traffic noise (with smaller increases with noise-reducing insert earphones) and had significantly more localization errors in traffic noise regardless of the type of headphones worn.
Recommended Citation
Malcolmson, Rebecca Jane, "LOCALIZATION ABILITIES OF PERSONAL AUDIO DEVICE USERS" (2008). Digitized Theses. 4925.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4925