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Bad Acoustics Inhibit Learning
It is hard enough for children to pay attention in the
classroom, but when they can't hear what the teacher is saying, it is even harder to
learn. Researchers at The Ohio State University realized the acoustics of many classrooms
are poor enough to make listening and learning difficult for the children.
Researchers studied 32 classrooms in Central Ohio. The
rooms tested were in all districts -- urban, rural, suburban -- and included both old and
new buildings. Only two rooms met the standards recommended by the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). In a majority of the rooms, background noise
and echoes were bothersome enough to impact the learning of children with even mild
hearing problems.
Children are sensitive to bad acoustics because they are
still learning the language. Those with learning problems or for whom English is a second
language have an especially hard time following a teacher's instructions in a noisy
room.
Most classrooms have hard floors and walls, where sound
bounces off and makes noise. Heating and cooling systems can contribute to the noise
problem. Researchers suggest buffering the noise with carpeting, drapes, wall hangings or
sound-absorbing panels. |
