Alyssa Hazlegrove

CSDS 570
3/26/2019

Acoustic Environments
Adult Acoustic Environment
Location: Walker’s Diner, Farmville Virginia
Date: March 16th, 2019
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Person who gave permission: Waiter

Child Acoustic Environment

Location: Farmville YMCA pool
Date: March 16th, 2019
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Person who gave permission: Ladies working the front desk

1.
Observation Walker’s Diner YMCA pool

Visibility of the 3 large window, additional artificial 9 large windows, few artificial
speaker to the lighting, restaurant was well lit lights, the pool was lit mainly by
listener natural lighting from the large
windows

Types of sound Kitchen appliances, conversations, Radio, echos, sound of rushing

present clink of dishes, cars passing by on the water, children screaming,
road outside, background music doors opening and closing,
whistle from the lifeguard

Room Low plastic-like ceiling panels, rub tile Concrete floors, cement brick
construction flooring, plastic-like wall panels, large walls (painted), high ceiling with
windows, small space tin roof, concrete pool with
water

Furniture, window Long metal wrap around bar table,
treatments stools, no window treatments to the 3
large windows, many loud kitchen
appliances relatively close to the eating
area, small furnace in corner ( not
being used)
hard plastic slides, concrete
water mushroom, lifeguard
stands and benches.
9 Large windows (no window
treatments), few artificial lights.

Location of All stools located at the bar beside the Benches and lifeguard stands
seating areas kitchen appliances located on cement brick walls
with respect to furthest away from majority of
noise sources human sound source. Closest
to radio sound source.
 Presence of any No acoustical treatments noted. No acoustical treatments
acoustical noted.
treatments

2.

Walker’s Diner
Easiest The easiest place to listen would be furthest away from the open kitchen and loud
kitchen appliances as well as the entrance to the restaurant. The listener would
also be against a wall and have no speakers to the left of them.

Hardest The hardest place to listen would be closest to the open kitchen and loud
appliances as well as the entrance to the restaurant. It is also against a window
parallel to the street. The spot is surrounded by other speakers.

YMCA Pool
Easiest The easiest place to listen would be in the middle of the pool away from the loud
radio and the rushing water of the water slide and children playing. This spot is
against a solid concrete wall which we believe would be the easiest place.Overall,
there is not an optimal space for a listener in the pool.

Hardest The hardest place to hear in the pool is next to the water slide because of rushing
water and children playing. It is also difficult to hear next to the radio speakers.

3.
Walker’s Diner inside
Measurement 1 Measurement 2 Measurement 3 Average

70dB 61dB 93dB 75dB

Walker’s Diner outside seating

Measurement 1 Measurement 2 Measurement 3 Average

94dB 68dB 65dB 75dB

YMCA pool
Measurement 1 Measurement 2 Measurement 3 Average

96dB 73dB 82dB 84dB

 Auditory Environments Reflection

1. Identify at least one strategy the client/family/professional could use to improve the listening

experience and one environmental solution the facility could implement (and might be likely to implement)

to improve the communication. (4 pts/location; 8 pts total)

At Walker’s Diner, one strategy that a client, family, or professional could use to improve

the listening experience would be to sit in the quietest area of the restaurant which would be

away from kitchen appliances. The client could also choose a less busy portion of the day for

the restaurant to cut back on additional noise. The facility, Walker’s Diner, could cut back on the

excess noise by adding window treatments like curtains.

At the YMCA pool, one strategy that a client, family, or professional could use to improve

the listening experience would be to play on the end of the pool that is further away from the

radio and the water slide. Families can avoid the busier time of day to lessen the chance of

noise from other speakers. One strategy that the facility could implement to improve the

communication would be sound panels. There are many companies carry sound panels for

indoor pools that hang down from the high ceilings.

2. Summarize what you learned, reflecting the readings, and how will you approach listening

Environments for your clients with hearing loss in the future. (5 pts)

Visiting common listener environments allowed me to reflect on how those environments

impact hearing on an average day. Walker’s Diner and the YMCA pool both had advantages

and disadvantages for listeners who are deaf and hard of hearing. My partner and I were

surprised at the results we found when measuring the sound level in each area. We assumed

that a small restaurant like Walker’s Diner would be loud and difficult for even those individuals
 with average hearing. We found that the diner was much quieter than we had anticipated even

with the additional kitchen sounds. The YMCA pool’s sound level was as expected for an

environment with high ceilings and metal structures.

After completing this assignment, I am more aware of the importance of environmental

factors the deaf and hard of hearing community come into contact with on a daily basis. I also

was made aware of simple solutions for environmental issues for listeners. In the future, I will be

mindful of seating placement, window treatments, echo, lighting, and the structure of the

environment I will use for treatment for clients with hearing loss. Overall, this assignment has

made me more aware of modifications and resources to further help future clients.

References

Acoustical Solutions. (2018, September 07). Soundproofing an Indoor Pool.

Retrieved from https://acousticalsolutions.com/soundproofing-an-indoor-pool/

Tye-Murray, N. (2018). Foundations of Aural Rehabilitation: Children, Adults, and Their Family

Members.

I have neither given nor received help on this assignment nor am I aware of any infraction of the
Honor Code.