Reducing background noise can significantly enhance the learning environment for all children and young people, especially those that are deaf and/or hard of hearing. Children and young people struggling to hear teachers speak can become easily distracted which can impact on concentration.
Hard flat surfaces are the main culprit of noise reverberation (when noise gets bounced around). Adding soft furnishing, acoustic boards and suspended ceilings will have a huge impact on acoustics in any room.
The following provides options to decrease noise in the classroom or early years settings. These can help to create a listening and learning-friendly environment for all children and young people.
Low cost solutions
Use carpets and rugs: Have as many carpeted areas as possible. Place carpets or rugs on the floor to help dampen noise. A soft cloth on a table top for noisy activities such as Duplo can really help.
Add soft furnishings: Incorporate soft furnishings like curtains, cushions, and upholstered furniture to absorb sound.
Line pencil pots or add felt mats to table tops: This will reduce pencil clatter noise. Add felt or foam to the bottom of the pots to reduce the scraping noise on the table top.
Add felt pads to tables and chair feet: This will reduce the noise of scraping chairs and furniture.
Close windows and doors: Ensure windows and doors are closed to prevent outside noise from entering the classroom.
Use sound absorbing materials: Choose materials like cork, fabric or felt to back classroom display boards. This will absorb sound better than paper. Remember to leave a small area free to help the sound absorb more effectively.
Arrange furniture strategically: Arrange bookshelves and other furniture to act as sound barriers and absorb sounds. The bookshelf, books, and magazines have mass which helps to absorb sound, resist vibration, and reduce sound transmission. Getting a bookcase that extends from the floor all the way up to the ceiling makes an even bigger difference. Sound absorbs better with tables arranged together rather than in rows.
Minimise hard surfaces: Reduce the number of hard surfaces that reflect sound, such as metal and glass. Cover with rugs, fabric or blinds.
Minimise noise from external sources: Turn off electrical equipment that is not being used. Ensure that heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems are maintained to minimise noise.
Plants: Plants around the room can help to absorb sounds
Technology: If used, encourage use of any assistive listening devices. Ask your Teacher of the Deaf for help to establish good use.
Solutions with a cost
Acoustic solutions: If there is funding available adding acoustic treatments to your walls, or if you don’t have the space, then adding sound absorption to your ceiling could be a better option. Like a carpeted floor, the ceiling offers a large space to add an acoustic treatment to control the noise in a classroom. Using baffles or ceiling panels are an easy way to add acoustic treatments while also keeping them out of view.
Install acoustic panels: Use acoustic panels on walls and ceilings to absorb sound and reduce echo. The following are examples of companies that offer panels. Please note they are not endorsed by Devon County Council
- Woolly Shepherd – Natural Acoustic Sound Absorbing Panels for Ceilings and Walls – The Woolly Shepherd
- Resonics – Acoustic Ceiling Baffles & Hanging Acoustic Panels – Resonics
Install ceiling tiles: Use acoustic ceiling tiles to help reduce noise levels.
Use Sound-Field Systems: Implement sound-field amplification systems to evenly distribute the teacher’s voice throughout the classroom.
Windows and doors: Fit double glazing where possible.
Grants available
- Birkdale Trust: Grants for the Deaf: Birkdale Trust for Hearing Impaired
- National Deaf Children’s Society: Grants for deaf children and young people| Financial support