The effects of sound source characteristics on source localization among hearing-impaired individuals in Taiwan. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Chia-Chen; Huang, Kuo-Chen; Lee, Pei-Jung
• Is Part Of: Applied acoustics. Volume 146(2019)
• Page Start: 288
• Page End: 294
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Sound localization -- Frequency of sound -- Source-to-subject distance -- Cue of source; Acoustical engineering -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 620.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apacoust.2018.11.030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-682X

Abstract

Highlights: Frequency of sound affects the error in judging the angle of orientation. Source-to-subject distance and cue of source affects sound localization. Results are applicable to acoustic design for the hearing-impaired users. Abstract: This study investigated the effects of frequency of the sound source, source-to-subject distance, orientation angle of the sound source, and cue of source on the error in judging the angle of orientation. Three levels of frequency of sound: 0.125, 1.0, and 6.0 kHz; three levels of source-to-subject distance: 1-, 2-, and 3-m; eight levels of angled orientation of sound: from 0° (in the front of subject) to 315°, in which every level is 45°, 180° represent behind the subject; two cues of source: two-ear (i.e., binaural hearing) and single-ear (i.e., better-hearing ear) were tested. A 3 (frequency of sound source) × 8 (angled orientation of the sound source) × 3 (source-to-subject distance) repeated-measures design was used. Results indicated that all four independent variables had significant effects on the error in judging the angle of orientation. The error in judging the angle of orientation for 6.0 kHz was greater than those for 0.125 kHz and 1.0 kHz. For the source-to-subject distance, 3-m resulted in the greater error in judging the angle of orientation. For the angled orientation of sound source, 315°, 90°, or 270° resulted in best localization performance; however, 0° and 180° resulted in the worst localization performance. The error in judging the angle of orientation for binaural hearing was smaller than for the better-hearing ear. The interaction effects of frequency of the sound × source-to-subject distance and frequency of the sound × angled orientation of sound source were statistically significant. In conclusion, the error in judging the angle of orientation was best with binaural hearing, 0.125 kHz, 45°, and 1-m.