…They must sound good too! The National Deaf Children’s Society NDCS has published a summary of the latest findings from the UK survey “Do schools sound good?” We posted information about the survey this in June, if you are interested in the latest summary please click here Here is an outline of points the NDCS […]
Education
Grand Designs on School Acoustics
An impressive initiative by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) and Grand Designs Kevin McCloud involving 50 MPs, is calling for government to ensure that new schools meet national standards for acoustics. The call comes after Freedom of Information Act data received by NDCS showed that only 21% of the local authorities in England that […]
11 commandements to protect your hearing
RAs reported in Ecophon Acoustic Bulletin (November 3, 2008) screening of primary school pupils’ hearing wasn’t a research program only. One of the main tasks was to build awareness toward hearing protection and noise control. A short guide for children, parents ,and teachers has been prepared, with advice how to protect hearing and how to […]
Only 1 of 10 Swedish local authorities has an action plan towards noise in schools
Few local authorities in Sweden do something active as to reduce noise and high sound levels in schools. Only 12 % of the local authorities have an action plan, reveals an investigation done by “Lilla Aktuellt” (Swedish TV-program for young people). In spite of knowing that noise and high sound levels indeed are work environment […]
Swedish study on hearing impairment and tinnitus among school staff
This investigation show an increased occurrence of hearing impairment among school and preschool (kindergarten) staff. Since the noise exposure in schools is indeed high, it seems important to decease sound levels in Swedish schools. (Summary in Swedish) (another summary in Swedish) The goal with this investigation (Carl Hogstedt, Greta Smedje, Robert Wålinder, Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala, […]
WHAT YOU CAN HEAR, SEVEN YEARS OLD ?
From March to June this year, huge screening on 7-years old children’s hearing was done in 7 eastern provinces of Poland (with 42,3 % of total country population). During 4 months, 85% of seven years old children on this territory were examined. The results point out that 20% of them have different forms of permanent […]
The Essex School Study – optimum classroom acoustics
The Essex study ran for 5 months during the academic year 2007/8 during which period classrooms were repeatedly modified acoustically. Many objective and subjective measures were obtained and initial findings have been described as ‘very powerful’! Multiple perspectives are always important when considering the impact of the acoustic environment on a system as complicated as […]
Poor room acoustics impairs sport teachers´ hearing
Dutch sports teachers (PE teachers) sued their employers for suffering serious hearing impairment because of working in a poor acoustic environment. The schools that employed the PE teachers compensate the teachers financially. The Dutch Royal Society of Physical Exercise Teachers (KVLO) http://www.kvlo.nl/ supports the teachers in this matter. On September 10th (2008) an article occurred […]
VOICE DISORDERS AMONG TEACHERS AS AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE
Voice is a basic tool for teachers. Chronic voice disorders, very common among teaching staff, cause long term sick leaves or leaving the job for good (for other profession or for disability pension). In Poland, chronic voice disorders as a group of diseases are formally recognized as occupational disease. In 2007, officially confirmed voice disorders […]
Swedish Television publish checklist for quieter school canteens
In a Swedish TV program noisy school canteens were on the agenda. A resent study on noise levels in school canteens were referred to. It was mentioned that half of the pupils in the Swedish comprehensive schools feel bad due to school canteen noise levels. Children may get stomach pain; head ache or feel more […]
