Two objective measures were used to describe acoustic conditions, reverberation time and sound pressure level. Sound pressure level is a measure of the intensity or loudness of a sound. Sound pressure levels are often weighted to account for variations in intensity at different frequencies, with the A weighted scale being the most commonly used. Decibel level rises on a logarithmic scale, thus a 50dB sound level is ten times an intense as a 40dB sound level. Sound pressure level data was obtained in only one of the four homes, as it was the only one where the residents were present.
Reverberation time is a measure of how long a sound persists in a space.
A high reverberation time may result in reinforcement of existing sound pressure levels, creating a perceived increase in the loudness of a sound. Reverberation time is directly related to volume and material characteristics of a space. Staff were interviewed to determine if any acoustic problems were noticeable, and if so what the nature of these problems were. Number of residents and daily routines were noted in order to determine their effect on acoustic conditions. The objective measures of the acoustic conditions were analyzed and measured compared to standard norms for residential spaces.