Conference_programme: 18.1 - Effect of room acoustics and noise on speech intelligibility and task performance in schools
Lecture: A field study on the acoustic environment of special needs education classrooms
Author(s): Ueno Kanako, Watanabe Shinnosuke, Noguchi Saki
Summary:
A child with a developmental disability, such as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), has a high possibility of having atypical sensorial characteristics. Indeed, children with ASD often face great difficulties while listening to teachers’ instructions in noisy environments. Moreover, since their hearing is highly sensitive, specific or loud sounds may induce problematic behaviors. However, apart from the acoustic design of classrooms for special needs education of the hearing-impaired, the importance of the acoustic properties of classrooms has not been recognized by architects or educators in Japan. It is necessary to determine the acoustic requirements of a classroom by considering the atypical hearing properties of children. In this study, we investigated the acoustic problems of schoolrooms for special needs education and the methods to improve their sound environment. First, a questionnaire survey was conducted on the supervising teachers of the special needs education class, and the children’s disorders, hearing properties, and problems caused by the acoustic environment were examined. Simultaneously, an observational survey of the school was performed and acoustic problems were overviewed. Second, as a means to find a method to improve the problems caused by sound, a small space was constructed with metal frames surrounded by sound-absorbing material, then experimentally placed in a classroom so that children could take refuge in the quiet environment. The effectiveness of the space was investigated by an observational survey of the classroom and an interview survey of the teachers.
Corresponding author
Name: Prof Kanako Ueno
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Country: Japan
