Evaluating the Intelligibility of Speech in Worship Auditoriums in Makurdi Metropolis

Abstract

For comprehension to take place in a room, it is pertinent that the space is acoustically efficient. This study assessed intelligibility of speech in worship auditoriums with the view to identifying factors causing acoustic defects in the auditorium. Microprocessor SL5858 Digital Sound Level Meter and iSTI Signal Generator were used for data capturing. The findings revealed that Reverberation Time (RT) in six of the ten auditoriums viz: B, D, G, H, I and J fell within the standard range of 1.8 - 3.0s. This can be established that RT is not a major contributing factor to the problems of intelligibility in the worship auditoriums studied. The findings also revealed that Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of only two of the ten auditoriums, D and E, met the standard of ±15dB. This shows that SNR is a major contributing factor to issues affecting intelligibility in the worship auditoriums studied. The findings further show that six of the ten auditoriums fell within 0.60 - 0.75 on the STI Scale and are adjudged acoustically good. This can be established that STI is also a contributing but not a major factor to the problems of speech intelligibility in the selected auditoriums. The study recommended that selection of building materials should be carried out with the aim of controlling sound in the rooms. Also, measures be put in place to treat the acoustic defects identified in the worship auditoriums in Makurdi Metropolis.