Non-Intrusive Objective Assessment of Speech Perception in Noisy Classrooms

Abstract:
This study describes an evaluation method for non-intrusive speech perception assessment. The proposed method assesses the listening effort related to speech perception in noisy classrooms. It combines an estimation of the physical signal properties relevant for perception of speech with a perceptual model. For a wide range of signal-to-noise ratios, the measure can predict differences in listening effort for different positions in the room. It also predicts the benefit of sound-field systems, which boost the teacher’s voice by playing it back over a loudspeaker. This approach therefore seems appropriate for the design and real-time evaluation of public-address systems and room acoustics.