Auditory distraction by speech: Comparison of fluctuating and steady speech-like masking sounds.

Sound masking can diminish the performance impairment due to background speech in open-plan offices. This paper compares a steady-state masking sound with the spectrum of the disturbing speech signal to a time-reversed speech masker. As part of a laboratory experiment subjects have to complete a digit span task and a questionnaire.

Auditory distraction by speech: Sound masking with speech-shaped stationary noise outperforms -5 dB per octave shaped noise.

Sound masking can reduce the distraction due to ambient sounds in open-plan offices. This paper compares a typical masking sound with a slope of -5 dB per octave to a steady-state signal with the spectrum of the disturbing speech signal. Subjects had to complete a number recall task and a questionnaire in a laboratory experiment.