Proposed method for assessing audible hazard alarms using simulated hearing impairment

The need for sound design schemes for alarm systems that can be easily heard by both people with hearing impairments and with those with normal hearing has been expressed from many quarters. While sound designs for various types of hazard alarm systems, different classifications of hearing impairments, and even ambient sound are required, no solutions have appeared thus far. This paper proposes to fill this need by using simulated impaired hearing based on a sound design assessment scheme applying the Amplitude bandwidth Compression/Expansion method (ACE) for modeling the characteristics of nonlinear aural fields. By having people with normal hearing listen to hazard alarm systems that employ this simulated hearing impairment, they can re-create the experience of people with hearing impairments, enabling them to identify the necessary aural elements of existing hazard alarm systems (car horns/alarms, railroad crossing warning sounds). This methodology proved to be effective for universal sound design.