Acoustics and reverberation at school

Recommendation 107
Once the necessity for measures against reverberation is clear, the measures are almost unlimited

Chapter (themes)
Interior design (noise and acoustics)

Because of
sensory sensitivity (to noise)

In order to
lessen or avoid noise.

Elaboration
As discussed rather extensively in the theme noise and acoustics, reverberation comprises one of the, if not the most important sensory challenge, which is particularly present in schools. This concerns children with normal hearing and of course more so children with more acute hearing which was found in about half of assessed autistic children. (See the Chinese study in the theme sound.)

A relatively large number of recommendations is concerned with noise-reduction, among which three in this chapter about interior design. ( See context school.) These constitute a complement to the recommendations in the chapter Architectural spaces, because that’s where lowering reverberation should begin. The placement of sound-absorbing plates on walls and ceilings for instance, we consider a building measure. (See recommendation 76.)

Recommendations concerning lessening reverberation through interior design don’t have to be more than suggestions because the idea is self-evident and the possibilities are all but limitless. Suggestions are:

– applying sound absorbing carpeting in stead of (or on top of) wood, linoleum, or ceramic tiles

– tapestry

– gluing foam underneath table tops and chair seats

– upholstered furniture

– avoiding venetian blinds.