Acceptable Noise Level
Also written as: ANL — Acceptable Noise Level
A measure of the maximum level of background noise a listener is willing to tolerate while following speech, used to predict hearing aid success.
Full Definition
Acceptable Noise Level (ANL) is a clinical metric that quantifies the highest level of competing background noise a patient will accept while listening to continuous discourse at their most comfortable listening level. It is calculated by subtracting the background noise level accepted from the most comfortable listening level. A lower ANL score indicates greater noise tolerance and is associated with better hearing aid adoption outcomes. ANL testing is used to counsel patients and predict satisfaction with amplification before fitting. Editors should note that ANL is always expressed as a dB difference, not an absolute sound-pressure level.
Usage
Usage note: Always expand to 'Acceptable Noise Level' on first use; the acronym ANL should not be confused with 'average noise level' in occupational-health documents.
In Context
- "The patient's ANL of 7 dB suggested strong candidacy for open-fit amplification." — Audiological assessment report
- "ANL scores should be documented alongside speech-in-noise results for a complete hearing aid candidacy profile." — Clinical protocol guideline