Space Shuttle Noise and Active Noise Reduction Effects on Speech Intelligibility

Abstract

This study tested the effects of active noise reduction (ANR) technology upon speech intelligibility under conditions of simulated space shuttle mid-deck noise. Thirty-two participants (16 male, 16 female) were tested with and without ANR headsets in a repeated measures design. A pre-recording of eight presenter voices (4 male, 4 female) reciting test words from the Modified Rhyme Test (MRT) was played in the presence of space shuttle mid-deck noise for each condition. There were significant differences in speech intelligibility with the use of ANR headsets, and between speech presenters. The scores obtained with the use of the ANR headsets were lower (less intelligible) than scores gained without the headsets. Gender and order effects were not observed. It is concluded that the type of ANR headset tested in this study will not aid speech intelligibility in the shuttle mid-deck noise environment.