Introduction Speech in the ICU affected Intensive care units (ICU) can be noisy and disruptive environments from both a patient recovery and workplace perspective, affecting speech intelligibility. Noise and poor ward acoustics have been linked to sleep disturbance and protracted recovery times in patients, as well as increasing workplace stress, fatigue and occupational burnout in […]
Healthcare
How noise affects decision-making
Noise has always been seen as a challenge in workplaces, but its impact on decision-making—especially in experience-based judgments—is not yet fully understood. This article looks at two research studies that explore how noise affects decision-making and the practical implications of their findings. Why room acoustics matter in decision making Efficient decision-making is essential in workplace […]
Acoustics, Music and Architecture podcast
How sound and buildings interact! A new BBC Sounds “Start the Week” podcast with sound guru Prof. Trevor Cox, Fiona Smyth author and musician Jess Gillam combine to give a great overview of the history and development of architectural acoustics… Some fascinating acoustic discussions and insights: Echo vs reverberation, distinct echo vs reverberant bloom… Listen […]
New Aural Diversity toolkit helping designers create more inclusive spaces
Aural Diversity Toolkit Arup and the Aural Diversity Network have developed a toolkit to help designers create spaces and environments that meet the needs of everyone. This toolkit addresses the broader needs of those with aural sensitivities and provides a comprehensive set of recommendations, further research and other relevant aspects to consider to better inform […]
Acoustic refurbishment of a Dementia Assessment Clinic
Increased need for Dementia Clinics Demographic changes across the globe lead to higher life expectancy in general and we are facing a future where people live longer than before. We have more and more patients of higher age in our healthcare facilities, as well as Dementia Clinic, today than we used to and we need […]
A Child Perspective on Noise Exposure and Health Effects – Challenges and Strategies
The filmed keynote presentation from Inter-noise2024 this summer is now available. Abstract (plus some relevant slides from the presentation): The presentation discusses the challenges of adopting a child perspective on noise exposure and the health effects due to noise. It takes as a point of departure a child perspective on vulneralility, including exposure, susceptibility to […]
Early Morning Insights: Evaluating Sound in Emergency Department Redesign
Department redesign at Jeroen Bosch Hospital I had the privilege of kicking off the INTER-NOISE 2024 conference with the first presentation on Monday morning at 8:00 AM. Despite the early hour, the room was filled with fellow acoustics enthusiasts eager to delve into the pressing issue of noise in healthcare and Emergency department settings. My […]
Inter-Noise 2024: Healthcare Acoustics
It was with great pleasure we visited this years Inter-Noise in beautiful Nantes in France. Nantes is especially know for being the birthplace of Jules Verne, master of adventure who was also a poet and one of France’s most prolific authors of all time, with a specific interest in science. Some 1800 acousticians and researchers […]
Three strategies towards greater sustainability – presentation at DAGA conference
The 50th Annual Congress of the German Acoustical Society (DAGA) was held in Hannover this year. Celebrating decades of innovation and scientific advancement, DAGA 2024 featured presentations dedicated to sustainable practices in acoustic research and technology. This article provides a summary of the presentation by Achim Klein from Ecophon Saint-Gobain on the efficiency, consistency, and […]
Tackling acoustic challenges in open-plan offices
Increase in open-plan solutions Open-plan offices have gradually become a preferred model for companies to use, mainly to encourage spontaneous interactions between coworkers, but also because of the aesthetics around a big open room. Further, there is an economic benefit of having as many workstations as possible in fewer square meters. However, these benefits often […]
