Effects of unattended speech on performance and subjective distraction: The role of acoustic design in open-plan offices

A new approach to assessing the performance of noise indices in buildings

An experimental study on noise indices in air conditioned offices

This research investigated differences in task performance and perception under six non-time-varying ventilation-type background noise spectra with differing tonality. The results were related to five indoor noise criteria systems: noise criteria, balanced noise criteria, room criteria, room criteria mark II, and the A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level (LAeq). These criteria systems are commonly used in the U.S. building industry, but concerns exist over whether they are appropriate for all noise situations. Thirty test subjects completed three types of performance tasks (typing, reasoning, and math) and answered questions about their perception of the indoor environment under each noise condition. Results showed that performance scores did not change significantly across the six noise conditions, but there were differences in subjective perception. For example, perception trends for tonality, annoyance, and distraction changed based on the frequency and prominence of discrete tones in noise. Howev...

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Implications of Human Performance and Perception under Tonal Noise Conditions on Indoor Noise Criteria

Book on noise effects on man covering audiometry, aural reflex, hearing damage risk, physiological responses, motor performance and speech communication

C.T. Wong

Papers

Performance of noise indices in office environment dominated by noise from human speech