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The Acoustic Transparency of Waterproof Smartphone Cases.
Sarah M Fray1, Linda M Thibodeau1
1Dept. of Speech, Language, and Hearing School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas.
Seminars in Hearing
|December 28, 2020
Summary
Waterproof smartphone cases significantly reduce phone audio output, potentially hindering communication for individuals with hearing loss. This impacts audiology counseling and assistive technology effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Acoustics
- Consumer Electronics
Background:
- Effective phone communication is vital for daily life.
- Audiologists use technology and counseling to aid individuals with hearing loss on phones.
- Smartphone case design can impact audio output, affecting phone usability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the decibel (dB) output reduction caused by waterproof smartphone cases.
- To assess the impact of these cases on audio signal intelligibility.
Main Methods:
- Tested two different waterproof smartphone cases with three smartphones (two iPhones, one Android).
- Measured the decibel (dB) output of the ear-level speaker with and without the cases.
- Evaluated potential intelligibility loss based on signal attenuation.
Main Results:
- Both tested waterproof cases caused significant attenuation of the audio signal.
- One case/phone combination resulted in substantial signal loss, potentially causing complete lack of intelligibility.
- The degree of attenuation varied between case/phone combinations.
Conclusions:
- Waterproof smartphone cases can negatively impact phone audio quality.
- This attenuation may pose a significant barrier to communication for users with hearing loss.
- Audiologists should consider the effect of smartphone accessories in their counseling.
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