Criteria for Alarms

(1.) Mus t be heard above background ambient nois e. Should be a

minimum of 15 db above the thres hold of hear- ing above the nois e level. This
typically requires about 30 db difference to guarantee detection. Sound components
s hould be dis tributed acros s s everal frequencies to avoid mas king of the alarm by
the malfunction- ing equipment/s ys tem nois e.(2.) Should not be above danger levels
for hearing whenever pos s ible. Danger level begins at 85-90 db. Careful s election
of frequencies can often be us ed to accomplis h this and the criteria for 15 db
above nois e alarm.(3.) Should not be overly s tartling Trade-off between too loud
and too s oft. Can be addres s ed by tuning the ris e time of the alarm puls e.(4.)
Should be informative Signal the nature of the emergency Signal the appropriate
action to be taken (ideally)

Too many types of alarms can produce confus ion.(5.) Should not dis rupt the
proces s ing of other s ignals or any back

- ground s peech communications that may be es s ential to deal with the alarm
Aircraft, Medical equipment, alarm s ys tems

Importance of addres s ing fidelity level

- produce recognizable s peech,- produce recognizable s peech that can be heard in

nois e, and- s upport "eas y lis tening."

Temporary thres hold s hift (TTS) and Permanent thres hold s hift (PTS)

Temporary thres hold s hift (TTS)- Large immediately after nois e is terminated,
declines over the next few minutes .- Typically expres s ed as los s in hearing 2
minutes after nois e is terminated.

Permanent thres hold s hift (PTS).- Als o termed occupational deafnes s - Stems from
louder and longer expos ure to nois e- Tends to be mos t pronounced at higher
frequencies , us ually greates t at around 4,000 Hz