Amplification not needed in noisy rooms

The U.S.-based Acoustical Society of America is advising schools not to use sound-amplification systems to overcome noisy classroom conditions.

Researchers at the Melville, N.Y.-based, ASA acknowledge amplification systems have many valid uses in schools, but they urge, instead, designing new classrooms or renovating old ones to reach acoustical performance criteria needed to make sounds intelligible for most participants in learning spaces.

"ASA has been concerned for many years about poor acoustics in America's classrooms and the deleterious effects poor acoustics have on the ability of children to learn and teachers to teach," said ASA President William Yost in announcing the policy statement.

"The best way to improve classroom acoustics is through the proper design and renovation of classrooms," he said. "Using sound amplification in an attempt to overcome poor classroom acoustics only makes the situation worse. There should be less sound in the classroom, not more."

The policy statement can be found online at the ASA Web site.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International