Search

Background sounds at home—namely those from television, communication devices, music, appliances, transportation, and construction—can support or impede infant language interactions and learning. Yet real-time connections at home between background sound and infant–caregiver language interactions remain unexamined. We quantified background sounds in the home environment, from 1- to 2-hr video recordings of infant–mother everyday activities (infants aged 8–26 months, 36 female) in two samples: European-American, English-speaking, middle-socioeconomic status (SES) families (N = 36) and Latine, Spanish-speaking, low-SES families (N = 40). From videos, we identified and coded five types of background sound: television/screens, communication devices, music, appliances, and transportation/construction. Exposure to background sounds varied enormously among homes and was stable across a week, with television/screens and music being the most dominant type of background sounds. Infants' vocalizations and mothers' speech to infants were reduced in the presence of background sound (although effect sizes were small), highlighting real-time processes that affect everyday language exchanges. Over the course of a day, infants in homes with high amounts of background sounds may hear and produce less language than infants in homes with less background sounds, highlighting potential cascading influences from environmental features to everyday interactions to language learning. Public Significance Statement: Numerous features of the home environment affect infants' learning. In two samples, we video-recorded infants and mothers during everyday activities and examined associations between background sounds and language interactions. Infants experienced a variety of background sounds, including sounds from music, television, and appliances. Mothers and infants were less likely to talk in the presence than in the absence of background sounds, suggesting reduced opportunities for infants to hear and learn from language in "noisy" environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infants are immersed in a world of sounds from the moment their auditory system becomes functional, and experience with the auditory world shapes how their brain processes sounds in their environment. Across cultures, speech and music are two dominant auditory signals in infants' daily lives. Decades of research have repeatedly shown that both quantity and quality of speech input play critical roles in infant language development. Less is known about the music input infants receive in their environment. This study is the first to compare music input to speech input across infancy by analyzing a longitudinal dataset of daylong audio recordings collected in English‐learning infants' home environments, at 6, 10, 14, 18, and 24 months of age. Using a crowdsourcing approach, 643 naïve listeners annotated 12,000 short snippets (10 s) randomly sampled from the recordings using Zooniverse, an online citizen‐science platform. Results show that infants overall receive significantly more speech input than music input and the gap widens as the infants get older. At every age point, infants were exposed to more music from an electronic device than an in‐person source; this pattern was reversed for speech. The percentage of input intended for infants remained the same over time for music while that percentage significantly increased for speech. We propose possible explanations for the limited music input compared to speech input observed in the present (North American) dataset and discuss future directions. We also discuss the opportunities and caveats in using a crowdsourcing approach to analyze large audio datasets. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/lFj%5fsEaBMN4 Research Highlights: This study is the first to compare music input to speech input in infants' natural home environment across infancy.We utilized a crowdsourcing approach to annotate a longitudinal dataset of daylong audio recordings collected in North American home environments.Our main results show that infants overall receive significantly more speech input than music input. This gap widens as the infants get older.Our results also showed that the music input was largely from electronic devices and not intended for the infants, a pattern opposite to speech input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyse the effects of auditory environments on receptive and expressive language outcomes in children with a CI. A single-institution retrospective review was performed. The auditory environments included Speech-Noise, Speech-Quiet, Quiet, Music, and Noise. Hearing Hour Percentage (HHP) and percent total hours were calculated for each environment. Generalised Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) analyses were used to study the effects of auditory environments on PLS Receptive and Expressive scores. Thirty-nine children with CI On GLMM, an increase in Quiet HHP and Quiet percent total hours were positively associated with PLS Receptive scores. Speech-Quiet, Quiet, and Music HHP were positively associated with PLS Expressive scores, with only Quiet being significant for percent total hours. In contrast, percent total hours of Speech-Noise and Noise had a significant negative association with PLS Expressive scores. This study suggests that more time spent in a quiet auditory environment positively influences PLS Receptive and Expressive scores and that more time listening to speech in quiet and music positively influences PLS Expressive scores. Time spent in environments recognised as Speech-Noise and Noise might negatively impact a child's expressive language outcomes with a CI. Future research is needed to better understand this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study sought to determine if children's auditory environments are accurately captured by the automatic scene classification embedded in cochlear implant (CI) processors and to quantify the amount of electronic device use in these environments. Methods: Seven children with CIs, 36.71 (SD = 11.94) months old, participated in this study. Three of the children were male and four were female. Eleven datalogs, containing outcomes from Cochlear's™ Nucleus® 6 (Cochlear Corporation, Australia) CI scene classification algorithm, and seven day-long audio recordings collected with a Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA; LENA Research Foundation, USA) recorder were obtained for analysis. Results: Results from the scene classification algorithm were strongly correlated with categories determined through human coding (ICC =.86, CI = [−0.2, 1], F(5,5.1) = 5.9, P = 0.04) but some differences emerged. Scene classification identified more 'Quiet' (t(8.2) = 4.1, P = 0.003) than human coders, while humans identified more 'Speech' (t(10.6) = −2.4, P = 0.04). On average, 8% (SD = 5.8) of the children's day was spent in electronic sound, which was primarily produced by mobile devices (39.7%). Discussion: While CI scene classification software reflects children's natural auditory environments, it is important to consider how different scenes are defined when interpreting results. An electronic sounds category should be considered given how often children are exposed to such sounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines human auditory interaction with an architectural design hypothesized to decrease users' vocal effort and thus enhance their speech privacy. This detailed design increased sound scattering in semi-enclosed meeting rooms within open plan offices. To achieve desirable speech intelligibility, a live sound environment is strongly recommended for meeting rooms. The research explores the hypothesis that by adding early reflections to the direct sound energy with an integrated design, the speaker as a self-listener might benefit from perceiving their own voice with more clarity. This can cause adaptive changes to subconscious vocal effort and increase the corresponding speech privacy of the space. An architecture-driven talker-quality experiment in a natural situation has been conducted in two rounds and in two different acoustic environments with 20 participants. The results implied the importance of human visual and spatial perception of privacy over auditory interaction with the environment on decreasing vocal effort. Such factors could thus be considered within the architectural design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite much interest in sow welfare, the impact of the acoustic environment on sow reactivity to her piglets is rarely considered. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of noise produced by mechanical ventilation and other sows on a sow's reactivity to her piglets. Sows were farrowed in one of three environments: 1) with eight other sows exposed to constant fan noise (GROUP-FAN; n = 10), 2) alone with fan noise present (ISO-FAN; n = 10), and 3) alone without fans running (ISO-QUIET; n = 10). Sows were subjected for 5 min to a piglet removal event (REMOVAL) by an unknown handler twice, at 24 and 48 h postfarrowing. During a REMOVAL, sows were observed via video recording for changes in posture, eating and drinking behavior, and head orientation. Audio was recorded to quantify vocalizations by the sow. Once piglets were returned, sows underwent further behavior observations for 10 min (RETURN), resulting in approximately 15 min of total video observation. Sows were classified as young (second and third parity) and old (fifth parity and older). The YOUNG sows tended to be more Alert (looking toward the handler or their piglets) during REMOVE than OLD sows (P = 0.07; 2.01 and 1.33, respectively). The ISO-FAN sows vocalized the loudest during REMOVAL (P < 0.001) with ISO-QUIET sows performing the quietest vocalizations (GROUP-FAN: 72.22 ± 1.06 dB; ISO-FAN: 73.61 ± 1.07 dB; ISO-QUIET: 67.41 ± 0.99 dB). During RETURN, YOUNG sows spent more time sitting than OLD sows (P < 0.01; 7.48 ± 1.6% and 0.91 ± 1.8%, respectively). The ISO-QUIET sows tended to have more posture changes during the RETURN with ISO-FAN having the least changes (P = 0.06; GROUP-FAN: 1.23 ± 0.4; ISO-FAN: 0.44 ± 0.3; ISO-QUIET: 1.61 ± 0.4). Finally, sows decreased the amount of time Alert in the second RETURN (P = 0.03; first: 3.9 ± 0.6%; second: 2.5 ± 0.6%). Overall, sows acclimated to the removal and return events with decreased vocalizations and decreased Alert behaviors in the second REMOVAL and RETURN. Additionally, YOUNG sows performed more active behaviors than OLD sows, indicating that sows may become less interested in or cannot hear their piglets as they age. Finally, there is some indication that ventilation presence has an effect on sow–piglet communication with ISO-FAN sows having the loudest vocalizations when compared with sows without ventilation noise, indicating that ventilation noise may be a possible competitor with a sow's ability to communicate with her piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Auditory environments can influence the communication function of individuals with hearing loss and the effects of hearing aids. Therefore, a tool that can objectively characterize a patient's real-world auditory environments is needed. Purpose: To use the Language Environment Analysis (LENA) system to quantify the auditory environments of adults with hearing loss, to examine if the use of hearing aids changes a user's auditory environment, and to determine the association between LENA variables and self-report hearing aid outcome measures. Research Design: This study used a crossover design. Study Sample: Participants included 22 adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, age 64-82 yr. Intervention: Participants were fitted with bilateral behind-the-ear hearing aids from a major manufacturer. Data Collection and Analysis: The LENA system consists of a digital language processor (DLP) that is worn by an individual and records up to 16 hr of the individual's auditory environment. The recording is then automatically categorized according to time spent in different types of auditory environments (e.g., meaningful speech and TV/electronic sound) by the LENA algorithms. The LENA system also characterizes the user's auditory environment by providing the sound levels of different auditory categories. Participants in the present study wore a LENA DLP in an unaided condition and aided condition, which each lasted six to eight days. Participants wore bilateral hearing aids in the aided condition. Percentage of time spent in each auditory environment, as well as median levels of TV/electronic sounds and speech, were compared between subjects' unaided and aided conditions using paired sample t tests. LENA data were also compared to self-report measures of hearing disability and hearing aid benefit using Pearson correlations. Results: Overall, participants spent the greatest percentage of time in silence (-40%), relative to other auditory environments. Participants spent -12% and 26% of their time in meaningful speech and TV/electronic sound environments, respectively. No significant differences were found between mean percentage of time spent in each auditory environment in the unaided and aided conditions. Median TV/electronic sound levels were on average 2.4 dB lower in the aided condition than in the unaided condition; speech levels were not significantly different between the two conditions. TV/electronic sound and speech levels did not significantly correlate with self-report data. Conclusions: The LENA system can provide rich data to characterize the everyday auditory environments of older adults with hearing loss. Although TV/electronic sound level was significantly lower in the aided than unaided condition, the use of hearing aids seemed not to substantially change users' auditory environments. Because there is no significant association between objective LENA variables and self-report questionnaire outcomes, these two types of measures may assess different aspects of communication function. The feasibility of using LENA in clinical settings is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We critically review the literature on the relationship between users of public spaces and their auditory environments, and how this knowledge is integrated in the planning, design, and management of public spaces as well as in technologies for acoustic and spatial data collection, analysis, and communication. To address the gaps identified in the review, we propose an activity-centered framework as a conceptual tool developed to support the integration of different types of knowledge in incorporating sound and the auditory environment in the planning and design of public spaces, by focusing on the activities that users perform in these spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention to the auditory environment of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) is limited, both in research and practice. As there is a dynamic interplay between the quality of the auditory environment and well-being, a study was undertaken to test the validity of the theoretical framework regarding the role of sound in homes for people with PIMD. The framework was formulated using techniques from soundscape and emotion research and resulted in a taxonomy of auditory environments, or soundscapes, including an important role for audible safety. A convenience sample of 34 healthcare professionals from various organizational layers volunteered to participate in a focus group study. During this expert meeting their latent knowledge was examined to see if it corresponded to the proposed theoretical framework. The answers given by the participants were grouped in five categories, Influencing behavior, Atmosphere, Clarity, Structure, Safety, and Recognition, showing a strong consistency between the knowledge and experience of the professionals and the theoretical framework. Results suggest the participants working on a strategic level have a less comprehensive understanding of the role of sound in the daily care. The authors' recommended the increase of awareness amongst the staff of organizations caring for people with PIMD of the role of sound in the environment so as to enhance psychological well-being and quality of life and thus reduce the prevalence of behavioral problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background People with profound intellectual disability experience a high prevalence of visual disability, making them more dependent on sound. However, research addressing the influence of the auditory environment is scarce. Method Observations of the auditory environments (soundscapes) and moods of people with profound intellectual and visual disabilities, in terms of core affect, were conducted in residential facilities by direct support personnel. Appraisals of soundscape and core affect dimensions were combined and analysed by means of multilevel linear regression. Results Findings endorse a positive relationship between the observed pleasantness and eventfulness of soundscapes and core affect of people with profound intellectual and visual disabilities. Conclusion Based on the results of this study we suggest a relationship between soundscapes and moods of people with profound intellectual and visual disabilities, as judged by staff members engaged in their environments. These findings give reason to believe that improved soundscapes could ameliorate the moods of the residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music-based intervention for hospitalized newborn infants has traditionally been based in a biomedical model, with physiological stability as the prime objective. More recent applications are grounded in other theories, including attachment, trauma and neurological models in which infant, parent and the dyadic interaction may be viewed as a dynamic system bound by the common context of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The immature state of the preterm infant's auditory processing system requires a careful and individualized approach for the introduction of purposeful auditory experience intended to support development. The infant's experience of an unpredictable auditory environment is further compromised by a potential lack of meaningful auditory stimulation. Parents often feel disconnected from their own capacities to nurture their infant with potentially life-long implications for the infant's neurobehavioral and psychological well-being. This perspectives paper will outline some neurological considerations for auditory processing in the premature infant to frame a premise for music-based interventions. A hypothetical clinical case will illustrate the application of music by a music therapist with an infant and family in NICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exposure to the voice and language during the critical period of auditory development associated with the third trimester is thought to be an essential building block for language. Differences in the auditory experience associated with early life in the NICU may increase the risk of language delays for premature infants. NICU nurses are fundamental in the care of premature infants; how they use their voices may be important in understanding auditory experiences in the NICU. This study examined voice use behaviors of NICU nurses in the United States and their current knowledge of early auditory development., Method: An opt-in, online questionnaire., Results: Nurses reported using their voice more as the age of infants approached term gestation and speaking to infants was the most common type of voice use. Both infant and nurse factors influenced reported voice use decisions in the NICU. Nurses did not believe the NICU auditory environment to be sufficient to meet early auditory needs of premature infants but did believe that premature infants are exposed to adequate voice sounds., Conclusions: A gap in knowledge regarding the importance of early exposure to voice sounds may be a barrier to nurses using their voices to support early auditory development.

Objective: To determine the influence of quiet time on the auditory environment of infants in the NICU and to compare the effect of quiet time by room type, bed type, and infant clinical acuity., Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive comparison study., Participants: Sixty-six infants born at less than 38 weeks gestation who were between 32 and 40 weeks postmenstrual age., Setting: The auditory environments of infants in two level 3 NICUs within a pediatric hospital system in the Southeastern United States. Each NICU implemented quiet time for 4 hours per day., Methods: We assessed the auditory environment of the participants using Language Environmental Analysis technology. We used paired t tests to assess differences in the auditory environment during quiet versus nonquiet time and to compare the effect of quiet time by room type, bed type, and clinical acuity., Results: During quiet time, the auditory environment of participants had 13% more silence, 17% fewer electronic sounds, 25% less speech, and 30% fewer words than during nonquiet time. We observed greater differences in quiet time versus nonquiet time for infants in open bays and incubators and infants who had greater acuity., Conclusion: Our results support the implementation of quiet time to increase silence and reduce exposure to electronic sounds for infants in the NICU. Additional research is necessary to further examine the effect of quiet time on the auditory environment of infants in the NICU with consideration of environmental and clinical variables., (Copyright © 2020 AWHONN, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Many people spend a considerable amount of time performing intellectual activities within auditory environments that affect work efficiency. To investigate auditory environments that improve working efficiency, we investigated the relationship between brain activity and performance of the number memory task in environments with and without white noise using functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods: Twenty‐nine healthy subjects (aged 21.9 ± 1.4 years) performed the number memory task in both the white noise and silent environments. Cerebral blood flow changes during the task were measured using an ETG‐7100 fNIRS system (Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The psychological states of the subjects were also estimated by subjective ratings of the pleasantness of the auditory environment. Then, they were divided into three groups based on their task scores. The differences in the cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes, functional connection strength, and the subjects' feelings of pleasantness to the noise between the subject groups were analyzed and discussed. Results: The first group felt that the white noise was pleasant, which strengthened the bilateral functional connections between the brain regions related to the memory task. Therefore, the subjects' task performance improved in the white noise environment. Although the second group felt that the white noise was uncomfortable, the frontal regions related to attention control were more activated in the white noise environment to sustain the task performance in the noisy environment. The third group felt that the white noise was unpleasant, and their CBF decreased in that environment, which was associated with deteriorated task performance. Conclusions: Task performance was closely related to the subjects' feelings of pleasantness to the noise. The results of the analysis of the CBF changes and functional connectivity suggested that the effects of the white noise on brain activity differed among the three groups. To investigate the appropriate auditory environment for improving working efficiency, we investigated the relationship between brain activity and performances of the number memory task under white noise environment and environment without white noise using functional near‐infrared spectroscopy. The task performances were closely related to the level of pleasantness to the noise, and the analysis of cerebral blood flow changes and functional connectivity revealed that the effect of white noise on brain activity was different among the three groups classified by the task performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite much interest in sow welfare, the impact of the acoustic environment on sow reactivity to her piglets is rarely considered. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of noise produced by mechanical ventilation and other sows on a sow's reactivity to her piglets. Sows were farrowed in one of three environments: 1) with eight other sows exposed to constant fan noise (GROUP-FAN; n = 10), 2) alone with fan noise present (ISO-FAN; n = 10), and 3) alone without fans running (ISO-QUIET; n = 10). Sows were subjected for 5 min to a piglet removal event (REMOVAL) by an unknown handler twice, at 24 and 48 h postfarrowing. During a REMOVAL, sows were observed via video recording for changes in posture, eating and drinking behavior, and head orientation. Audio was recorded to quantify vocalizations by the sow. Once piglets were returned, sows underwent further behavior observations for 10 min (RETURN), resulting in approximately 15 min of total video observation. Sows were classified as young (second and third parity) and old (fifth parity and older). The YOUNG sows tended to be more Alert (looking toward the handler or their piglets) during REMOVE than OLD sows ( P = 0.07; 2.01 and 1.33, respectively). The ISO-FAN sows vocalized the loudest during REMOVAL ( P < 0.001) with ISO-QUIET sows performing the quietest vocalizations (GROUP-FAN: 72.22 ± 1.06 dB; ISO-FAN: 73.61 ± 1.07 dB; ISO-QUIET: 67.41 ± 0.99 dB). During RETURN, YOUNG sows spent more time sitting than OLD sows ( P < 0.01; 7.48 ± 1.6% and 0.91 ± 1.8%, respectively). The ISO-QUIET sows tended to have more posture changes during the RETURN with ISO-FAN having the least changes ( P = 0.06; GROUP-FAN: 1.23 ± 0.4; ISO-FAN: 0.44 ± 0.3; ISO-QUIET: 1.61 ± 0.4). Finally, sows decreased the amount of time Alert in the second RETURN ( P = 0.03; first: 3.9 ± 0.6%; second: 2.5 ± 0.6%). Overall, sows acclimated to the removal and return events with decreased vocalizations and decreased Alert behaviors in the second REMOVAL and RETURN. Additionally, YOUNG sows performed more active behaviors than OLD sows, indicating that sows may become less interested in or cannot hear their piglets as they age. Finally, there is some indication that ventilation presence has an effect on sow-piglet communication with ISO-FAN sows having the loudest vocalizations when compared with sows without ventilation noise, indicating that ventilation noise may be a possible competitor with a sow's ability to communicate with her piglets., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.)