Urban sound design for all

This paper reflects on the design of an urban sonic environment that meets the needs of all inhabitants. To this end, it explores the variance in hearing capabilities amongst different groups of the population relying on several recent findings in that area. Based on detailed analysis of hearing, attention, and sensitivity, it was found that there is a significant variation in the capability for focusing and gating in complex auditory environments both in the healthy population and in disease. These differences go well beyond what can be observed by the classical assessment of hearing periphery through tonal audiometry. Examples of disease considered are, attention deficits, Parkinson's, dementia, ... Consideration of the differences between persons influences the expectations for public space sonic environments but may also directly influence the soundscape as perception and understanding are key elements of its definition. Urban sound design could embrace concepts as complexity and high fidelity to better cater for the needs of all groups of users of urban public places.