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(ROCKVILLE, MD-August 17, 2004) A student's ability to hear and understand verbal information is vital, but often is reduced in schools because poor classroom acoustics allow excessive levels of background noise into the classroom, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Background noise can be any unwanted sound that interferes with hearing, says ASHA, the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 115,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.
"For all children to do well in school, a good listening environment needs to be provided so the teacher's voice can be heard above extraneous noises," says ASHA President Larry Higdon, M.S., an ASHA-certified audiologist (CCC-A). "This can be achieved by amplifying the teacher's voice, by using carpeting, drapes, or upholstery to absorb sound, or by reducing background noise whenever possible."
Background noise can come from:
- Outside the school building (traffic, lawnmowers, or children on the playground);
- Inside the school (children in the hallway, gym, lunchroom or band class);
- Inside the classroom (heating or air conditioner units, audio/visual equipment, classmates)
A good listening environment is especially important for children with hearing loss or other listening problems. It is estimated that 13 of every 100 school children have some degree of hearing loss. Children who have a hearing loss may:
- Frequently misunderstand what is said and want things repeated
- Have difficulty following verbal instructions and/or respond inconsistently
- Turn up the volume of the television, radio, or stereo
- Have speech and/or language problems
- Have a short attention span or poor memory for sounds or words
- Have reading, spelling, and other academic problems
- Have feelings of isolation, exclusion, annoyance, embarrassment, confusion, or helplessness
To ensure healthy hearing, ASHA recommends that children at risk for hearing loss, such as chronic ear infections or family history of hearing loss, be screened as frequently as needed to ensure they are hearing well. Otherwise, for children ages 5-18, hearing screenings should occur:
- On initial entry into school and annually in kindergarten through 3rd grade as well as in 7th and 11th grades.
- Frequently for children in middle and high schools who are exposed to loud music during band, at concerts or from headsets, noise in recreational sports or while using machinery, or other noisy environments that can cause permanent hearing loss. Hearing protection (such as the use of ear plugs) should be used.
ASHA offers the following brochures for parents and caregivers:
- Hearing, Noise, and School-Aged Children talks about hearing loss among school children and the importance of a good listening environment.
- Noise: Bad for your Hearing, Bad for your health! addresses noise at home and work, the decibel levels of common activities, and how to protect your hearing. This brochure is available in Spanish.
- Audiologists - Hear for a Lifetime talks about hearing health through the ages, from newborns to the elderly. Includes a checklist for symptoms of hearing loss and related problems. This brochure is available in Spanish.
These free brochures are available by calling ASHA's Action Center at 1-800-638-8255 (Spanish-speaking operators available) or by email at actioncenter@asha.org. Consumers can also find information on ASHA's Web site.
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