Are annoyance scores based on sound pressure levels suitable for snoring assessment in the home environment?

Fischer, Rene and Unverdorben, Franziska and Kuehnel, Thomas S. and Vielsmeier, Veronika and Spanier, Gerrit and Marcrum, Steven C. and Rohrmeier, Christian (2021) Are annoyance scores based on sound pressure levels suitable for snoring assessment in the home environment? SLEEP AND BREATHING, 25. pp. 417-424. ISSN 1520-9512, 1522-1709

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Abstract

Purpose An objective statement about the annoyance of snoring can be made with the Psychoacoustic Snore Score (PSS). The PSS was developed based on subjective assessments and is strongly influenced by observed sound pressure levels. Robustness against day-to-day interfering noises is a fundamental requirement for use at home. This study investigated whether or not the PSS is suitable for use in the home environment. Methods Thirty-six interfering noises, which commonly occur at night, were played in the acoustic laboratory in parallel with 5 snoring sounds. The interfering noises were each presented at sound pressure levels ranging from 25 to 55 dB(A), resulting in 3255 distinct recordings. Annoyance was then assessed using the PSS. Results In the case of minimally annoying snoring sounds, interfering noises with a sound pressure level of 25 dB(A) caused significant PSS changes from 40 to 55 dB(A) for annoying snoring sounds. If the interfering noise was another snoring sound, the PSS was more robust depending on the sound pressure level of the interfering noise up to 10 dB(A). Steady (no-peak) interfering noises influenced the PSS more strongly than peak noises. Conclusions The PSS is significantly distorted by quiet interfering noises. Its meaningfulness therefore depends strongly on the acoustic environment. It may therefore be assumed that scores dependent on sound pressure level are suitable for measurements when there is minimal ambient noise, as in the sleep laboratory. However, for measurements where noise is incalculable, as in the home environment, interfering noises may distort the results.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA; BED PARTNERS; QUALITY; INTENSITY; SYMPTOMS; POSITION; NOISE; Snoring; Assessment; Annoyance; Psychoacoustic snore score; Sound pressure level
Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
Divisions: Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde
Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie
Depositing User: Petra Gürster
Date Deposited: 09 Apr 2021 09:11
Last Modified: 09 Apr 2021 09:11
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/44520

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