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Most comfortable listening level as a function of age

S Coren1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Ergonomics
|July 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

The ideal listening level for speech increases with age, with significant rises after 65. This study found the Most Comfortable Listening Level (MCLL) rose by 34 dB over 75 years, impacting sound system design.

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Area of Science:

  • Audiology
  • Acoustics
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • The optimal loudness for speech comprehension can vary significantly between individuals.
  • Age-related changes in hearing sensitivity are well-documented.
  • Previous research suggests a link between age and preferred listening levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the Most Comfortable Listening Level (MCLL) for running speech across a wide age range.
  • To investigate the relationship between chronological age and MCLL.
  • To explore the correlation between MCLL and hearing sensitivity.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 799 participants aged 17-92 years.
  • Measured the MCLL for a running speech signal.
  • Analyzed the relationship between age, MCLL, and hearing sensitivity.

Main Results:

  • MCLL demonstrated a monotonic, non-linear increase with chronological age.
  • Before age 40, MCLL increased by ~0.33 dB/year; after age 65, it increased by >0.5 dB/year.
  • Over a 75-year span, MCLL increased by 34 dB, correlating with hearing sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • Age is a significant factor influencing the MCLL for speech.
  • Older adults require higher listening levels for comfortable speech perception.
  • Findings have implications for designing audio systems catering to diverse age groups and hearing abilities.

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