Panasonic WX-LT350 Acoustics in Educational Settings

Acoustics in Educational Settings

(Summary)

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

ASHA, March 1995, 37, pp. 15-19

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) maintains the

position that all students should be provided with appropriate acoustical

environments in educational settings. Without the proper acoustical

characteristics in these environments, students will see a decline in their

attention, behavior, speech perception and learning.

ASHA has suggested that schools try to achieve the following to improve

listening conditions:

• Minimize speaker-to-listener distances by ensuring students sit in the direct

sound field of the teacher. Because students cannot always be in close range of

the teacher, artificial methods such as assistive listening devices should be used.

• Place classrooms in low traffic areas and away from external noise sources

such as playgrounds and HVAC equipment.

• Locate classrooms away from large group areas such as gymnasiums,

cafeterias and auditoriums.

• Landscape (trees, shrubs, and earthen banks) to reduce noise from external

sources.

• Equip classrooms with heavy carpeting, thick curtains and acoustical wall and

ceiling panels.

Because many of the suggestions above are impractical in all classrooms,

ASHA

strongly supports the use of assistive listening systems in classrooms.

Research indicates improved speech recognition in students, both with normal

hearing and with hearing loss, who use amplification systems. Extensive

research and studies of acoustical conditions in classrooms reveal excessive

noise (any auditory disturbance) and reverberation (reflected sound energy).

Continued….