Uncomfortable sound pressure estimation system, uncomfortable sound pressure estimation processor, uncomfortable sound pressure estimation method, and computer program thereof

An uncomfortable sound pressure estimation method comprising the steps of:

• acquiring information of hearing threshold levels respectively for a plurality of frequencies;
• determining at least two measurement points at which to measure uncomfortable sound pressures, wherein measurement points respectively associated with at least two hearing threshold levels of different values among the acquired hearing threshold levels are determined as measurement points at which to measure uncomfortable sound pressures;
• measuring uncomfortable sound pressures with respect to the at least two determined measurement points;
• calculating a predetermined criterion concerning auditory characteristics by using the respective hearing threshold levels and uncomfortable sound pressures for the at least two measurement points;
• and
• estimating an uncomfortable sound pressure at a measurement point other than the at least two measurement points from the acquired hearing threshold levels, according to the predetermined criterion,
• wherein at least one of the acquiring, the determining, the measuring, the calculating and the estimating is performed by circuitry.

An uncomfortable sound pressure estimation system, comprising one or more memories;

• and circuitry, which in operation:
• acquires information of hearing threshold levels respectively for a plurality of frequencies;
• determines at least two measurement points at which to measure uncomfortable sound pressures, each of the at least two measurement points at least defining a first frequency concerning a first hearing threshold level and a second frequency concerning a second hearing threshold level among the acquired hearing threshold levels, the second hearing threshold level being of a different level from the first hearing threshold level;
• measures uncomfortable sound pressures with respect to the at least two determined measurement points;
• calculates a predetermined criterion concerning auditory characteristics by using the respective hearing threshold levels and uncomfortable sound pressures for the at least two determined measurement points;
• and
• an uncomfortable loudness level (UCL) estimation section configured to estimate an uncomfortable sound pressure at a frequency corresponding to a given hearing threshold level, according to the predetermined criterion.