Ian Rich on the Future of Audiology Spaces and Human-Focused Acoustic Design

With over 45 years of experience in acoustics and audiology, Ian Rich has shaped the sector with a rare blend of technical expertise and human focus. He has a story for almost anything and anyone, including even Donald Trump’s father. He lives on a peaceful farm in the UK and knows the names of all the chickens and ducks that live together with his family. Today, he brings to DECIBEL not only a lifetime of expertise but a unique perspective on how far the industry has come, and where it’s heading.

Ian began his journey as a Project Manager, delivering noise control solutions across diverse industries. But it was audiology that truly captured his interest - spaces that weren’t hidden behind walls, but used daily to help people hear better. “Many acoustic projects disappear into a building’s construction,” Ian recalls, “but audiology suites are highly visible and used every day. I liked to be able to see something very tangible delivered from our efforts.” He still remembers the thrill of his first completed project: three audiology rooms at Worcester Royal Infirmary in 1979, a moment that marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to advancing hearing environments.

“The world is very noisy, and I help people to make it quieter, often making special rooms to keep noise in or noise out. It’s important that we live in a quiet world as it keeps everyone’s hearing safe and working properly.– that is exactly how Ian would describe what he is doing to a 5-year-old.

From his first audiology suite in a Victorian hospital to pioneering national standards and envisioning sound-masked rooms of the future, Ian’s story is a rare and inspiring journey through the evolution of acoustics, architecture, and healthcare.

 

After such a long and distinguished career in the acoustics sector, what was it about DECIBEL that made you join the team?

I recall after first meeting the DECIBEL team about 5 years ago how they were looking forward to new noise control ideas. Much noise control stems from way back into the 1950s with we’ve always done it like that mindset. Here was a company that was very ‘can do’ across a wide spectrum of products. It was not a difficult decision to get on board and help.

 

What were some of the most significant changes you observed in acoustic technology and practices during the early stages of your career?

I worked for a company that was really the first pioneer in audiology testing. With very few specialist acoustics companies around, I found an opportunity to help Audiologists solve many of the problems they would see with misdiagnosis due to outside noises. Over the years, the standards we defined and the products we built became industry standards, and legislation and specifications were developed from our early development work.

I also remember that most acoustic control products were originally designed for industrial noise issues. The solutions were therefore always highly industrial looking. As architectural noise control developed the same products were transferred across and we ended up with very ugly-looking projects. The development of aesthetically pleasing noise control and audiology testing booths took some time to arrive!

 

Looking back, what were some of the biggest challenges the acoustic sector faced in its early years, and how have those challenges been addressed?

The biggest challenge to early noise control in industry was that it was a cost but no return so there was reluctance to invest. Projects that could show return went ahead, often difficult to show this while the importance of workers’ health was a low priority. In the architectural world, there was a thought that if mineral wool or foam were applied to walls all would be good. The original egg box on the wall concept.

My favourite return on investment for noise control story involves Fred Trump (father of Donald Trump) who realised with some noise control on his buildings' boiler rooms in New York apartment blocks he could get apartments closer to the boilers, hence more in and more rents. Considering noise control at the beginning of any project is essential and the most economical. Remedial noise control is expensive!

The science of acoustics has evolved rapidly. It’s now a very popular academic area with much research and development going into trying to improve the quality of sound and reduce the impact of noise.

As technology has evolved, our industry and our solutions have needed to evolve with it. As with all engineering fields, keeping up to date with the latest developments, and understanding how our industry can influence or is being influenced by these developments, is of the highest importance.

Within audiology, the technological advances in hearing aids have improved dramatically – the quality of the hearing test to determine the ideal solution for a client becomes paramount – so the test environment has needed to evolve to ensure the best outcome for our clients.

One of the most satisfying areas of our industry is audiology test facilities for young children (Paediatric Audiology) – It is essential to build a tactile and comforting environment for children to sit and be tested – enough room to not feel claustrophobic, and for the audiologists to make small sounds around the child to see if their hearing is working as normal. Helping small children with hearing problems can significantly improve their quality of life, and their ability to learn and play. It’s an immensely satisfying part of my job.

 

How has the understanding of the relationship between sound and human perception evolved over the past decades?

At one stage there was no need for acoustic control. The world was a quiet place! Then as we made more noise things changed. As long ago as the late 1700 sailors reported being unable to hear after firing large numbers of cannons in battle.

With the Industrial Revolution came the first serious noise. At first, there was no real concept of the consequences of being in heavy industry, riveting steel, huge weaving sheds and a vast array of noise sources. Deteriorating hearing became a part of your job, there was no sense of any occupational health, and workers knew it was going to occur. Today it is well known about the dangers of high noise levels with all sorts of noise control measures and legal protection in place.

There is now a significant improvement in sound quality through audio devices, and everyone certainly enjoys the experience of pure sound. From the early days of gramophones, there has been a constant and progressive desire to improve the sound quality of recording and reproducing music and the spoken voice.

This has been complimented with an increase in understanding of hearing protection, and the damage that noise can have on our long-term health – not only to our hearing but to our heart and mental wellbeing.

For many years I have worked in an industry that has been at the forefront of the development of sound and protection from noise. It’s really motivating to know that, along with my colleagues, customers and suppliers, I’ve helped drive this progression, helping us all to have a better quality of life, long into our old age.

 

Can you describe a particularly memorable project or experience from your early career that significantly shaped your perspective on acoustics?

Way back I assisted with many projects at the Royal National Throat Nose & Ear Hospital at that time located in Gray’s Inn Road, London. It was one of the leading ENT and audiology hospitals in the world. It always felt as if I were part of the team pushing boundaries forward.

 

What is the most rewarding aspect of your long career in this field?

I guess knowing that I have been able to help in the diagnosis of hearing problems for many people all around the globe and being involved with some of the leading hearing health care research professionals. I was particularly pleased with projects in Ghana and The Gambia where hearing was not always a high priority. Helping in the design of some of the world’s leading ENT centres has always been a high point.

 

From your perspective, how does DECIBEL's focus on the audiology sector differentiate its work?

I feel we are not constrained by what has gone by before and we can deliver new concepts in terms of acoustics and aesthetics.

DECIBEL’s approach, in many ways, differs from others in our field. DECIBEL is an engineering company at heart. Our engineering team have a vast range of experiences and qualifications from within acoustics and from other engineering disciplines.

With experienced and qualified engineers in the fields of acoustics, structural, civil, electro-mechanical, and even mining engineering, we can bring a diverse range of knowledge and experiences to the market. DECIBEL has developed and continues to develop many new and innovative products that complement the Audiology sector. Since the difficult COVID-19 pandemic, we are now able to provide microbial finishes to audiology booths to restrict the potential migration of germs. And we can provide solutions to meet modern fire regulations and add automation and complementary technologies where required.

We are often asked to do things that no one has ever done before – we love these challenges!

 

What are the industry challenges for the different hearing centres?

There is not really a one-size/design that fits all locations for audiometric rooms. All buildings will have different noise issues to address, whether in the building or externally. All projects therefore need proper structural and acoustic surveys to arrive at the right design. Also, it is most important to review the details of the scheme with the users to make sure everything is in the right place for their particular operation, right down to the look and colours of the room.

 

What are the typical standards for audio booths?

In round terms, the ideal background noise level in a clinical audiology test room is about NR20.
Historically there have been many standards with countries adopting their own.

Today the most accepted standard is ISO 8253 across Europe while America works to ANSI standards. ISO 8253 guides the maximum permissible sound pressures in 1/3 octaves from 31.5Hz to 8000Hz. There are slight variations depending on particular tests such as Pure-tone and Bone conduction, Sound field and Speech audiometry. Reverberation times would typically be less than 0.25 seconds.

 

What are some of the most exciting technological advancements you've seen in the acoustic sector recently?

Audiology probably advances in aesthetics in delivering a far more pleasant and relaxing environment for patients and staff. Certain components have changed, in particular doors that in the past looked like a patient was being taken into an industrial refrigerator full of frozen food.

A key thing that attracted me to DECIBEL is its passion for developing new and innovative solutions and embracing modern technology. DECIBEL’s MUTE system is ground-breaking as it offers a soundproofing system that is much thinner, and higher performing than the traditional approaches to domestic and commercial soundproofing. DECIBEL has also embraced noise cancelling and noise masking systems that add a wider range of options to our clients.

 

How has the increasing focus on wellness and human-centric design impacted the field of acoustics?

Traditional acoustic design often focused primarily on noise control and meeting regulatory standards (like reverberation times, isolation and background noise levels). Human-centric design emphasizes how people feel in a space, which has led to greater attention to perceived sound quality, not just decibel levels. We now consider how sound affects stress levels, focus, mood, and even sleep quality. This is particularly important in Paediatric audiology rooms.

 

In your opinion, what role does sustainability play in the modern audiology sector?

A joy of working in Audiology is to help improve the quality of life for generations to come. Acoustics is an environmental science, and noise is as much pollution as smoke or carbon levels. Being a company that is passionate about the environment we live in; we are also passionate about the wider environment and protecting our planet’s natural resources. For this reason, we strive to design products that will last a lifetime and to use materials that can be recycled and reused at the end of their long practical usefulness.

 

How have methods of sound isolation and control changed over the years?

It has been long established that density plays an important role in sound isolation. There is a lot more science to it than this, but the denser the wall, the better the sound isolation. However, improvements in materials and changes in architectural trends have driven demand for more innovative and sustainable products. We now understand that the separation of layers and dampening between layers is essential. The addition of mass-loaded vinyl can help tune out certain frequencies, complimenting isolation systems. PET is a relatively new development made from recycled plastic bottles and wool; It’s an environmentally friendly way to reuse plastic waste for great benefit to our listening environment.

 

What people usually don’t know about hearing testing? Is there a common misunderstanding?

Absolutely! Hearing tests don’t just test how loud a sound must be before you can hear it. Comprehensive hearing tests also check speech discrimination, frequency sensitivity, and how your brain processes sound, especially in noisy environments. You might “hear” the sound but not understand it clearly, that’s a different kind of problem.

 

From your perspective, how has the understanding of the impact of noise on human health and well-being progressed?

The understanding of how noise impacts human health, and well-being has advanced tremendously in recent decades. What was once seen as just a nuisance is now recognised as a major public health concern affecting everything from sleep to heart health to cognitive function.

In the past, noise was just a nuisance. Now we now know that noise exposure, even at relatively low levels, can have serious long-term effects on both physical and mental health.

 

What are some of the key considerations when designing acoustic solutions for individuals with specific auditory sensitivities?

Great question and a super important one, especially as awareness around neurodiversity, sensory processing disorders, and inclusive design continues to grow. When designing acoustic environments for individuals with specific auditory sensitivities (like autism, ADHD or PTSD), the focus shifts from just sound control to sensory well-being.

It’s important to understand some parameters:

• Control over the sound environment (allowing people with sensory processing disorders helps overcome anxiety – if they can control the volume, their anxiety can melt away.
• Reducing reverberation and echo – people with sensory processing problems find it difficult to process sound in reverberant spaces – even people with simple hearing loss struggle in these environments.
• Minimising sudden and unpredictable sounds (doors slamming, workers' noise for example)
• Types of lighting, colours on walls and floors, reflections.

There are many other aspects to be considered to help those with sensory processing disorders.

 

Do you have a favourite sound?

Well… I live on a farm and I love to hear the morning chorus. The chickens and ducks cackle and quack all day.

 

Have your perception and personal attitude towards silence evolved through the years?

Of course. Being in the noise control industry has helped me acquire an acute awareness and appreciation of peaceful environments. For relaxation, my wife (Lydia) and I love exploring the great outdoors and appreciating the beauty of nature.

 

What advice would you give to young professionals entering the audiometric sector today?

It’s a great industry to be in – constantly evolving, requiring people who are passionate about the world we live in.

 

How would you describe THE PERFECT audio booth?

This is a tricky question as it depends on the purpose of the audio booth. If for hearing tests, silence is golden. No outside noise and minimum reverberation from within the space.

If for recording or listening to music, an LEDE (live end dead end) room gives the best listening experience.
If for testing equipment or vehicles, an anechoic chamber (where there is no reflective sound) is best.
If for testing the sound performance of acoustic products, then a reverberation chamber and receiving room are required.

This is what makes our market space so interesting, each client’s requirement is often unique and different from the last enquiry.

 

What are some of the most critical skills and knowledge areas for success in this field?

Understanding acoustics is of course essential. It’s also important to know the standards and regulations that control our industry. But a broader knowledge of engineering is also essential – we must understand the principles of civil, structural, aerodynamic and thermodynamics to be able to understand our customers’ requirements and offer the best solution. It’s also very important to understand the details of the operating procedures of each type of test facility.

 

Looking forward, what are some of the most pressing research areas or innovations that you believe the acoustic sector should focus on?

This is a challenging question… I believe the industry needs to focus on three important areas of development:

• Noise is now officially considered an environmental health hazard, second only to air pollution. Continuing to understand the longer-term impact on our health is essential. Finding ways to control noise in our everyday environment will lead to longer and healthier lives.
• Sustainability is hugely important for our future generations. We must continue to develop green solutions for the next generations and protect this planet we call home.
• Artificial Intelligence will help to drive our industry. AI-driven sound masking or sound enhancement can help our listening experience, and with machine learning, we can develop more accurate models of soundscapes and acoustic solutions helping to model engineered designs that work first time and for economical cost to our clients and the environment.

 

What are some of the biggest misconceptions about the audiology field that you'd like to address?

Audiologists just fit hearing aids. In the same way that an optician can diagnose health issues far beyond just the eyes, Audiologists can look at how well our brains can process sounds, they investigate balance disorders, tinnitus and auditory processing, and are contributing to research in psychoacoustics, cognition, and ageing.

 

Where do you want to see the audiology sector in the next years?

In the past, Audiology was seen as a reactive field, treating people who had already lost some or all of their hearing. But it’s moving rapidly now to a proactive approach to health and well-being.

I look forward to the day when everyone appreciates the quality of life they can have, from improved control of listening environments throughout their lifespan. Proactive screening from the earliest age is an important part of this. But more than this, I’m looking forward to a holistic approach towards hearing and brain health, where audiologists are seen as keen players, focusing on cognitive function, mental wellness and social connectivity.

I want to be involved with the first DECIBEL sound-masked audiology room. It will maintain the background noise levels, control reverberation and reduce impact noise. A giant sound-controlled bubble!