Question
I have been measuring Acceptable Noise Levels (ANLs) with my patients and wanted to know what the best verbal directions were to increase the reliability of repeated measures.Answer
Our research has indicted that ANL measurements are very reliable. Our official instructions are as follows:
Instructions for establishing most comfortable level for speech:
You will listen to a story through a loudspeaker. After a few moments, select the loudness of the story that is most comfortable for you, as if listening to a radio. Hand-held buttons will allow you to make adjustments. First, turn the loudness up until it is too loud and then down until it is too soft. Finally, select the loudness level that is most comfortable for you.
Instructions for establishing noise level:
You will listen to the same story with background noise of several people talking at the same time. After you have listened to this for a few moments select the level of background noise that is the MOST you would be willing to accept of "put-up-with" without becoming tense and tired while following the story. First, turn the noise up until it is too loud and then down until the story becomes very clear. Finally, adjust the noise (up and down) to the MAXIMUM noise level that you would be willing to "put-up-with" for a long time while following the story.
There are additional details on how to instruct patients, including how to break the ANL instructions into sections and an overview of the ANL procedure on our web site at web.utk.edu/~aspweb/faculty/nabelek/anl.shtml
Melinda C. Freyaldenhoven, Ph.D., CCC-A (Assistant Professor): Mindy earned the Ph.D. degree in Speech and Hearing Science from The University of Tennessee (Knoxville) in 2006. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Louisiana Tech University (Ruston).
Patrick N. Plyler, Ph.D., CCC-A (Assistant Professor): Patrick earned the Ph.D. degree in Speech and Hearing Science from The University of Tennessee (Knoxville) in 1998. He then moved to Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge), where he was an Assistant Professor for 5 years. In 2004, Patrick returned to The University of Tennessee (Knoxville) as an Assistant Professor.
