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The annoyance of snoring and psychoacoustic parameters: a step towards an objective measurement

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to find out whether objective analysis of snoring sounds (sound pressure level and psychoacoustic parameters) correlates with the subjective rating by participants with respect to perceived annoyance and hence whether it is useful. 43 participants, aged 22–65 years with normal hearing, were asked to rate 60 snoring sounds from simple and obstructive snorers according to their level of annoyance. A correlation analysis according to Spearman was then performed on objectively calculated parameters. These were the A-weighted sound pressure level, the psychoacoustic parameters of loudness, sharpness, fluctuation strength and roughness and psychoacoustic annoyance (PA) calculated from those parameters. The subjective ratings showed high, highly significant correlations with, in particular, the mean A-weighted sound pressure level (r = 0.88; p < 0.01), the 5th percentile of psychoacoustic loudness (r = 0.89; p < 0.01) and psychoacoustic annoyance (r = 0.80; p < 0.01). These parameters seem to provide information about the degree of annoyance that is objectively measurable and independent of the snorer’s bed partner. Further studies should follow in order to confirm these results, find out their generalizability and establish reference values.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Christian Rohrmeier, Frank Haubner & Thomas S. Kuehnel

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Michael Herzog

Authors
  1. Christian Rohrmeier
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  2. Michael Herzog
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  3. Frank Haubner
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  4. Thomas S. Kuehnel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christian Rohrmeier.

Additional information

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS): trial name: the annoyance of snoring and psychoacoustic parameters, URL: http://www.drks.de/DRKS00003201, registration number: DRKS00003201.

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Rohrmeier, C., Herzog, M., Haubner, F. et al. The annoyance of snoring and psychoacoustic parameters: a step towards an objective measurement. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 269, 1537–1543 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-011-1878-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-011-1878-2

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