High noise levels are very common in preschools. In this study, the influence of noise on the heart rate variability of preschool teachers was investigated. Furthermore, suggestions are given on how the noise level in preschools could be reduced. By Sonja Brachtl, psychologist and preschool teacher Background The average sound level in preschools often exceeds […]
noise
Healthcare at Internoise 2022
Tomomi Yamada: Masking effect of sounds during treatment on dental drill sound The drill is an excellent device – except for the sound! Well, we can probably all agree with that opening statement by Tomomi Yamada. It´s human nature to respond instantaneously to frightening sounds and this sound probably affects most people! The sound is […]
Baltic-Nordic Acoustic Meeting 2022
On May 9-11 2022, Aalborg hosted the bi-annual Baltic Nordic- Acoustic Meeting (organized by the Nordic Acoustic Association), which this time is merged with the EUROREGIO (organized by the European Acoustics Association). The conference brought together academics, engineers, consultants, and other practitioners in the wide field of acoustics. Some of the really interesting presentations are […]
Keeping noise levels stable, while the hustle increase excessively
If we improve an acoustic environment, usually we reduce noise level and reverberation time. When an unexpected situation occurs, reductions are not reached, but… Consider activities before making your conclusion! This study was conducted in 2021 in the Customer Service Centre of ČEZ in Děčín. ČEZ Group is the biggest energy company in the Czech […]
Psychoacoustics: Humans and sound environments
From thunderclaps to crying children: sound waves have a large variety of physical, physiological, and psychological effects on people. These effects, rather than the actual sound wave, affect acoustic comfort. In room-acoustic design, it is often not enough to measure how to achieve the best possible technical parameters. In addition to this, one should always […]
EIAS 2015 throwback: Four presentations on room acoustic descriptors
In anticipation of the next Ecophon International Acoustic Seminar (EIAS) we bring you these 4 presentations on acoustic descriptors from EIAS 2015. Much in the world has changed since 2015, but the need for more technical descriptors in evaluating room acoustic quality is not one of them. Technical objective descriptors provides us to more accurately […]
Laboratories: Open-plan offices inside healthcare environments
Laboratories as open-plan offices Since March 2020, the coronavirus disease was formally characterized as a pandemic. Since that time, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to high demand for healthcare resources. Laboratory activities surged due to the rapid increase in testing. In hospitals or clinics, laboratories operate mainly in the domain of patient-related research and analyses. […]
Irrelevant speech is a risk for your health
In offices, noise control should be a priority as unwanted sound causes stress. Continuously elevated stress levels are a health risk. Turku University of Applied Sciences and University of Turku have conducted the first Finnish medical study on the physiological, psychological, and performance effects of irrelevant speech. Office noise consists primarily of this kind of […]
Hospital Soundscapes and ways to heal them
The hospital soundscapes “The soundscape of the average modern hospital is a cacophony of overlapping beeps, blats, and pings from monitors, roaring ventilation systems, raucous bursts of conversation from visitors, patients and the nursing station, carts rumbling down hallways, televisions, phones. Sleep, essential to the healing process, is available primarily through medications. Even medicated sleep […]
Counteracting post-pandemic literacy delays through better classroom acoustics
Effects of COVID-19 on children’s literacy levels worldwide After COVID-19 struck in January 2020, schools were some of the first institutions to close as wave upon wave of restrictions and lockdowns were applied globally. With such a sudden discontinuation of many children’s schooling, the effects of the pandemic on the learning and development have been […]
