For children with listening difficulties, learning environments can either support or hinder their educational success. Classroom acoustics play a crucial role in speech perception, concentration, and overall learning ability. However, research by Gheller et al. (2019) highlights that poor classroom acoustics significantly impact children's ability to process speech, leading to higher cognitive strain and lower academic performance.
Children with hearing impairments, auditory processing disorders (APD), ADHD, or bilingual learning backgrounds are particularly affected. But classroom acoustics aren’t just important in schools—they also affect tutoring centres, home study spaces, and academies where children learn outside traditional classrooms.
The Solution? Sound-Optimised Learning Environments
By incorporating sound reducing wall panels, such as those from dbsorb’s Education Collection, parents, teachers, and designers can create DQLS-compliant, speech-friendly spaces that promote focus, comprehension, and engagement. Unlike some competitors like, dbsorb’s glue-free panels are removable and reusable, making them ideal for modular classrooms, homeschooling setups, and temporary learning environments.
1. The Science Behind Classroom Acoustics and Listening Challenges
Children process sound differently than adults. Their auditory processing systems are still developing, which means they need a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to understand speech.
Why Does This Matter?
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Adults need an SNR of +6 dB for clear speech comprehension. Children need +15 dB. This means background noise needs to be far lower for them to understand spoken words clearly.
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Reverberation distorts speech perception. When sound bounces off hard surfaces like walls, floors, and ceilings, it creates an echo effect, which blurs speech clarity—especially for kids with hearing impairments or language-processing challenges.
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Children compensate for poor acoustics by using extra cognitive effort. This increases fatigue, reduces focus, and negatively affects learning outcomes (Gheller et al., 2019).
Key Research Findings (Gheller et al., 2019)
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Classrooms with poor acoustics reduce word recognition by 30%.
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Children with listening difficulties struggle more in noisy environments compared to their peers.
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Reverberation combined with background noise has an even greater negative impact than either factor alone.
What does this mean? Schools, academies, and homeschooling setups must prioritise acoustic-friendly environments to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to learn.
2. How Poor Acoustics Affect Different Groups of Children
While all children benefit from good acoustics, some groups are more affected by noisy or echo-prone environments.
Children with Hearing Impairments
Students with mild to severe hearing loss require crystal-clear speech input. A noisy classroom makes it nearly impossible for them to distinguish words, even with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Gheller et al. (2019) found that poor acoustics can decrease their speech comprehension by up to 50%.
Children with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
APD affects a child's ability to process and interpret sounds accurately. When a classroom has high reverberation, these children experience distorted speech, making instructions harder to follow.
Bilingual Children
Children learning in a second language need higher speech clarity to process words correctly. Research shows that bilingual learners require a quieter environment than monolingual students to achieve the same comprehension levels.
Children with ADHD
For children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), background noise is a major distraction. A classroom with excessive noise and reverberation makes it harder for them to focus, process verbal instructions, and complete tasks efficiently.
3. The Role of Acoustic Panels in Improving Speech Perception
How Sound Reducing Wall Panels Help:
✔ Absorb excess sound waves, reducing echoes and reverberation.
✔ Improve speech clarity, making teacher instructions easier to understand.
✔ Lower background noise, creating a more focused learning environment.
By installing acoustic panels for kids' learning spaces, schools, tutors, and parents can significantly enhance children’s ability to process and retain information.
4. Why Acoustics Matter Beyond the Classroom
Classroom acoustics are not just a school issue—they also impact home learning environments, tutoring centres, and academies where children receive additional education.
Why Should Parents & Educators Care?
🏫 Tutoring centres – Children need to hear their instructors clearly in both 1-on-1 and group settings.
🏡 Home study areas – Kids who are homeschooled or need a quiet space for studying benefit from reduced noise distractions.
📚 Libraries & resource rooms – Acoustic improvements help students focus on reading and comprehension tasks.
Since dbsorb’s panels aren’t permanently glued, they can be installed and removed, —making them perfect for modular and flexible learning spaces.
5. Evidence-Based Benefits of Acoustic Optimisation
Backed by research, the impact of better classroom acoustics includes:
📌 Improved literacy and comprehension skills. Poor acoustics slow down reading development (Puglisi et al., 2018).
📌 Higher student engagement. Students in well-treated acoustic spaces show higher participation and reduced frustration.
📌 Better cognitive performance. Less cognitive effort spent on listening = more brainpower for learning (Peelle, 2018).
6. Why dbsorb’s Education Collection is the Ideal Solution
Many mainstream acoustic solutions require permanent adhesives, making them impractical for flexible learning spaces.
Why dbsorb Stands Out:
🛠 DIY-Friendly & Removable – No significant wall damage; ideal for temporary and modular classrooms.
🎨 Stylish & Customisable – Available in multiple colours and groove designs to fit any learning space.
🌱 Glue-Free & Non-Toxic – Safe for children’s health and air quality.
🏫 Perfect for adaptive learning spaces – Ideal for homeschooling, tutoring centres, and classrooms.
Conclusion
A child’s ability to listen, process information, and succeed in education is directly influenced by their learning environment. Acoustics play a critical role, and research proves that poor sound conditions hinder children’s learning, especially those with listening challenges.
By integrating dbsorb’s Education Collection, you can:
✅ Improve speech clarity in classrooms and study areas.
✅ Create distraction-free learning zones at home and in tutoring centres.
✅ Ensure a flexible, non-permanent acoustic solution that adapts to different spaces.
Upgrade your school, academy, or home study area with dbsorb’s sound reducing wall panels today!
