/**
  * Checks if a given user should hear audio plopp for new personal notification.
  * Either the Stud.IP or the user could deactivate personal notification or
  * audio feedback. If neither is the case, this function returns true.
  * @param string|null $user_id : ID of special user the notification should belong to or (default:) null for current user
  * @return boolean : true if activated else false
  */
 public static function isAudioActivated($user_id = null)
 {
     if (!PersonalNotifications::isGloballyActivated()) {
         return false;
     }
     if (!$user_id) {
         $user_id = $GLOBALS['user']->id;
     }
     return UserConfig::get($user_id)->getValue("PERSONAL_NOTIFICATIONS_AUDIO_DEACTIVATED") ? false : true;
 }