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Human Factors Engineering Dr. Osama Al Meanazel

Lecture 9 (Noise) October 10, 2013

Preferred-octave Speech Interference Level (PSIL)

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PSIL

PSIL

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Hearing Tests
Simple Hearing Test
In this, the tester speaks and the testee has to reproduce what the tester has said. The problem with this method is apparent lack of standardization

Audiometric Test
An audiometer presents pure tones of various frequencies to the subject through an earphone By varying the sound-pressure level of the tone, the minimum audible sound-pressure level (threshold) is determined for each frequency These are compared to the average threshold of hearing for young persons with no hearing impairment The difference in decibels between the two thresholds, at each frequency tested, is reported on an audiogram as the hearing level or hearing loss at each frequency and for each ear

Noise Control
Control at the Source
Decrease the amount of vibrations
Design Maintenance Lubrication Proper padding using resilient materials Damping Material

Control along the Path

High frequency noise is more easily controlled than low frequency noise Use enclosures and linings to control high frequency noise Increase the overall length of path from the source to the receiver which the noise has to travel

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Noise Control
Control at the Receiver
Use of hearing protection devices
Insert type Muff type

Job rotation, testing programs, noise reduction programs

Noise and loss of Hearing

There are 2 primary types of deafness
Never deafness
Results from damage to the hair cells in the inner ear Hearing loss is uneven
Greater in high frequencies Lower in low frequencies

Primary cause is aging Cannot be remedied

Conduction
It is caused by some condition of the outer and middle ear that affects the transmission of sound waves to the inner ear Hearing loss is more even across frequencies Hearing aids most useful in this type of damage

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Psychophysical Indices of Loudness

Psychophysical Indices of Loudness

Phons
Measure absolute loudness Measures loudness set equal to decibel level of 1000 Hz pure tone All tones equal in loudness to a 50 dB 1000 Hz tone are judged to have a loudness equal to 50 phons Similarly, 40 dB at 1000 Hz = 40 phons

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Psychophysical Indices of Loudness

Sone
Tells us the relative loudness of sound One sone is defined as the loudness of a 1000 Hz tone of 40 dB (40 phons) A sound that is judged to be twice as loud as the reference sound has a loudness of 2 sone, a sound that is judged to be 3 times as loud as the reference sound has a loudness of 3 sone, etc. In turn, a sound that is judged to be half as loud as the reference sound has a loudness of 0.5 sone There is a relationship between phons and sones:
40 phons = 1 sone, and every 10 additional phons doubles the number of sone. For example,
50 phons = 2 sones, 60 phons = 4 sone

In like manner 30 phons = 0.5 sone, and 20 phons = 0.25 sone

Equivalent Sound Level (Annoyance of Noise)

Long-term average sound-level is the measure of the magnitude of environmental noise
Designated as equivalent sound level (Leq) Unit of measurement is dBA E.g. If a 100 dBA noise occurred for 1 h, the Leq for that hour would be 100 dBA.
Consider, however, a situation in which it was quiet during the next 4 h. The Leq for the total 5 h period would now be less than 100 dB; in fact it would be 94 dBA. This says that 5 hr of 94 dBA noise is equivalent in acoustic energy to 1 h of 100 dBA noise and 4 h of quiet.