Noise effects on children's cognition - WHO work on noise, Burden of Disease (BoD) and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY)

摘要

It has been suspected for many years that children's learning and memory are negatively affected by noise. Over 20 studies have shown negative effects of noise on reading and memory in children (Evans & Hygge 2007; Evans & Lepore 1993): epidemiological studies report effects of chronic noise exposure and experimental studies report acute noise exposure. Tasks affected are those involving central processing and language, such as reading comprehension, memory and attention (Haines 2001a, 2001b, Evans & Maxwell 1997; Cohen et al. 1973). Exposure during critical periods of learning at school could potentially impair development and have a lifelong effect on educational attainment.