Noise levels – how it is experienced by staff We have building regulations for room acoustics in hospitals in Intensive Care Units (ICU). But are they enough to create a good environment for both staff and patients? Recently a new study from Copenhagen hospitals was finalized so let’s take a look at some of the […]
research
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 […]
Optimum room acoustics in audiological research facilities
Copenhagen Hearing and Balance Center Audiological Research Facilities are part of Rigshospitalet’s new North Wing which officially opened on Tuesday 14 January 2020 with optimum room acoustics. The new wing of 54,700 m2 was designed to cater to the needs of patients and their families and includes 196 private rooms and 33 high-tech operating theatres. […]
Diffusion or absorption?
The Subjective Experience Depending on Type of Acoustic Treatment Recently, PHD student Emma Arvidsson, published an article regarding different acoustic treatments in ordinary rooms and how they are perceived. The article concerns how people subjectively experience different acoustic environments and furthermore, if the experience was different depending on where in the room they were sitting. […]
Soundscapes: A perceptual design tool on the rise
How we perceive the sounds around us is dependent upon their inherent acoustic characteristics but also their associated meanings, context and our experience. We individuals shape the frame of reference. Exposure to unwanted, negative sounds (noise!) impacts our quality of life. Until now, our primary goal in acoustics has been to solely reduce the negative […]
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 […]
Baltic-Nordic Acoustics Meeting 2021
The Nordic Acoustic Association and the Norwegian Acoustical Society invited scientists and engineers to attend the Baltic-Nordic Acoustic Meeting for 2021 this week and despite an online set-up the program consisted of keynote lectures, invited and contributed papers in structured parallel sessions. Some of the really interesting presentations are described here but you can find […]
New research: Sleep in the ICU
Acoustic interruptions A recent study published in Critical Care Explorations revealed a potential relationship between acoustic interruptions and worsened perceived sleep quality. One of the results was that patients were exposed to 4,861 acoustic interruptions in total during the night! The conception that critically ill patients are too ill to reflect on their sound environment […]
World Hearing Day 2021 – improve balance!
World Hearing Day – the 3rd of March 2021! The WHO points attention to this day by communicating that: The number of people living with unaddressed hearing loss and ear diseases is unacceptable. Timely action is needed to prevent and address hearing loss across the life course. Investing in cost-effective interventions will benefit people with […]
Noise in the ICU
Noise pollution In recent years, several acoustic studies have noted that the sound environment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is noisy and demanding. The noises are unpredictable and unexpected as they have numerous sources. The extent of the problem is not yet fully understood, but the impact of noise pollution in patient rooms in […]
