image: The modular wall is put together using building blocks fabricated by 3D printing.
Credit: Po-Chun Chou
PHILADELPHIA, May 14, 2026 — According to many deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, clarity — not volume — is one of the most challenging parts of understanding speech in enclosed spaces. In many types of rooms, sound reflecting off multiple walls muddies conversation, making it harder to understand.
“For most people, this might just feel like background noise,” said researcher Po-Chun Chou, a researcher from the University of Michigan. “But for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, it can significantly affect their ability to follow conversations — especially when it comes to distinguishing important speech details like consonants.”
But making spaces quieter isn’t a perfect solution — what matters is controlling how sound travels in a room. To do so, Chou developed a patterns wall to improve the listening experience of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
Chou will present these designs Thursday, May 14, at 3:40 p.m. ET as part of the 190th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, running May 11-15.
The researchers began by conducting acoustic simulations to study how different surface textures influenced speech clarity to determine the patterns for their wall. Then, they conducted experiments to validate their findings and observe how the designs affect sound behavior in real life.
Instead of building an entire wall, they designed “tiles” that could fit together like a puzzle, linking them together to fit different room shapes and sizes. These pieces were fabricated using a 3D printer.
“One key finding is that the acoustic performance of a wall can be precisely controlled through geometry and fabrication parameters — not just traditional materials.” Chou said.
Surprisingly, they found that different patterns and 3D printing settings impact different frequency ranges, meaning that the wall designs can be personalized to different user experiences.
Since this research was inspired by personal experiences, Chou hopes others will understand that challenges for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals can be amplified by their environments.
“Architectural acoustics should not be seen only as a matter of comfort — it can also be a matter of accessibility,” Chou said. “By integrating design, digital fabrication, and acoustic performance, we can create spaces that support clearer communication. This benefits not only deaf and hard-of-hearing users, but everyone who uses the space.”
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Main Meeting Website: https://acousticalsociety.org/philadelphia/
Technical Program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/web/planner.php?id=ASASPRING2026
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ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.
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