Broad Objectives: To devise and evaluate a processing scheme that may be incorporated into speech communications systems (predominately telephone systems) to reduce the occurrence and severity of acoustic shock injury that can result from using these systems.

2.   A processing scheme may be developed that controls the level of non-speech signals relative to the level of speech signals such that the relative loudness between the two is controlled.

3.   The proposed processing scheme will cause minimal audible degradation to the speech signals.

4.   A signal classification scheme can be developed that categorises speech communications system signals into speech and other signals within a very short time frame.