Sound augmentation for people with dementia: Soundscape evaluation based on sound labelling

Researchers increasingly look at augmenting soundscapes to reduce Behavioural and Psychological Syndrome of Dementia (BPSD). However, methods to select suitable sounds still need improvement. This study proposes a sound selection methodology to augment the soundscape in nursing homes to lower BPSD, using sound characteristics and recognition methods. To uncover the underlying characteristics of sounds that trigger a positive response, added sounds previously used in nursing homes in Flanders were re-analyzed using a wide range of acoustic and psychoacoustic indices. The results highlight the sound characteristics that lead to positive responses and the need for further studies to understand the sounds most suitable for people with dementia. Results showed that sharpness and high-pitch sounds, such as animal localization or crickets, create a higher chance of a positive response. High-pitched sounds have a higher emergence in a typical nursing home sonic environment, increasing the possibility of being noticed. Sounds recognized as music, however, had a lower chance of a positive response and should be used cautiously. Interestingly, although bird vocalizations are often highly rated in other contexts, the ones considered in the current dataset did not lead to a positive response, highlighting the need for further studies to understand better which sounds are most suitable for people with dementia.