Consider Sound in Room Design: How it affects focus and learning.

Season 1 - Episode 26

This is the first episode in our series about Room Design. We are discussing various design elements and how they impact stress, productivity, attention, and behavior. 

A study by Cornell University found that chronic noise caused stress in children. The study also found they did not learn as well as those in a quiet neighborhood. 

The body and the brain are in tune to things nearby, including sound. The brain expends energy processing those sounds, which takes away from focus and attention for learning. This is true for adults, as well. A noisy workspace also reduces productivity in office workers. 

Lauren discusses the biological connection to sounds that we didn’t hear in our hunter-gatherer days. These new sounds trigger internal stress responses. Our Barking Dog (limbic system) quietly barks constantly, preventing the brain from fully focusing on the task at hand. 

The types of noise to consider include: 

  • Reverberation

  • Airborne

  • Impact

While we can’t stop all the excess noise, we can prevent some of it. Our brain has only so much mental capacity per day. If that capacity is spent on categorizing sounds, it’s not able to keep and store information.

Lauren gives several examples of noise reduction options for the classroom. Many of these same options can be used at home, too. More information is listed below.

Other related resources from The Behavior Hub: 
Blog Post:
Design a Classroom with Sound in Mind

Our Online Courses: 
Classroom Design with the Brain in Mind
From Wild Emotions to Tamed Feelings – How to Self-Regulate

Lauren answers this week’s listener question during the episode: How do you deal with kids who have a burst of aggression? 

Try-at-home tip:  Meditation – Try using Insight Timer!

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Room DesignLauren SpigelmyerSound, NoiseComment