EFFECTS OF NOISE ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

There is a significant acoustical difference between State and Federal rules governing implementation of noise abatement programs in schools impacted by freeway noise. The magnitude of that difference suggests the rules may have been based upon empirically weak grounds. This study of third and sixth grades of 15 elementary schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District indicates that California's rule is more accurate than is the Federal rule in predicting the effects of noise on reading achievement. Based upon this study and another independent study, a revision of the existing rule is recommended. The design criterion for traffic noise inside classrooms should be L sub eq = 58 dB C-weighted. This criterion level is approximately 7 dB less than the current Federal standard and about 6 dB higher than the California standard. Because of the apparent synergistic effects of community and classroom noise levels on academic achieveent, in order for the above classroom noise limit to be effective in preventing degradation of achievement from noise, efforts will be required to contain community noise levels so as not to exceed L sub 1 = 65 dBA. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  California Department of Health Services

  2151 Berkeley Way
  Berkeley, CA  United States  94704

  California Department of Transportation

  1120 N Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Lukas, J S
  • DuPree, R B
  • Swing, J W
• Publication Date: 1981-9

Media Info

• Pagination: n.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Electric insulating materials; Insulating materials; Performance; School children; Schools; Sound level; Traffic noise
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria
• Subject Areas: Design; Education and Training; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00373134
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/CA/DOHS-81/01 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: IAA 19-7165
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1983 12:00AM