Vernaculars, Oral Interaction, and Communicative Environmental Sounds (VOICES)

Susanne Mohr and Yolandi Ribbens-Klein

Soundscapes as a research field originated in the late 1960s and received interest from musicians, social sciences researchers, designers and acousticians as an alternative approach to noise control and environmental sound research. Today, soundscapes are defined as “acoustic environment perceived or experienced and/or understood by a person or people, in context”. While these concepts are closely tied to language and communication, soundscape studies usually do not systematically address vocal characteristics or the meanings attached to spoken language. In linguistics, soundscapes are conceived as part of semiotic landscapes, i.e., the symbolic and discursive construction of public space. Here, soundscapes refer to the languages, dialects, accents, etc. used in a specific place. They emphasize the link between discourse, spatial practices and dimensions of culture. However, the auditory component of the sensory experience of place is under-researched so far. The VOICES project aims to fill this research gap.

The project uses ethnographic and sociolinguistic methods. It has mostly focused on the linguistic soundscape of Trondheim in the larger Norwegian context, conducting so-called "soundwalks" with both Norwegian and international participants. In 2026, it was extended to the Irish context, documenting the linguistic soundscapes of the Irish west (in Limerick and Galway). Project members at NTNU are affiliated with the Department of Language and Literature, external members include linguists at TU Dortmund (Germany), the University of Limerick and the University of Galway (Ireland).

Hidden hearing loss and auditory processing disorder in adolescents – two sides of a coin forged by a new sonic lifestyle?

Sara R. Martin and Markus Drexl

The advent of wireless personal sound systems enables adolescents to spend many hours in new, custom- tailored, and somewhat artificial soundscapes, often at intense sound pressure levels. While sound-induced hearing loss has been recognized for some time, two newer related potential health problems have emerged in recent years.

One such problem is that of hidden hearing loss, a distinct type of peripheral sound-induced hearing loss most likely caused by accumulated, temporary hearing loss. Hidden hearing loss is undetectable in conventional hearing threshold tests, but becomes visible in hearing tests above the threshold, such as speech perception within background noise, an important function of our auditory system.

In addition, anecdotal reports have emerged in recent years indicating that the use of active noise-cancelling headphones leads to an increasing incidence of auditory processing disorders, a condition often diagnosed in children and adolescents, where the auditory pathway struggles to process auditory information despite an intact auditory periphery, and normal hearing thresholds.

Detecting early signs of both impairments and linking this to individual sound exposure via personal sound systems is crucial for addressing, and preventing, this potential lifestyle-related, emerging public health problem.

Speech perception in noise: Norm data for the Matrix test in a sound field

Marte Kristine Lindseth and Markus Drexl

The aim is to create a dataset (normdata) to enable the benefits of spatial hearing to be assessed in a clinical context using a commercially available speech test (the Matrix test). The test is not widely used in Norway, but it is expected that the provision of normative data for sound field measurements using multiple loudspeakers will increase the use of the test.

Increased use of speech-in-noise tests such as the Matrix test may result in more precise diagnoses and improved validation of hearing aid fittings, as well as sound programming and mapping of cochlear implants.