All About Acoustics
By Susan Russell, Educational Audiologist
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Defining Acoustics
Defining Acoustics
Susan Russell,Educational Audiologist
Acoustics is defined as the “properties or qualities of a room that determine how sound is transmitted in it”. In other words, if a room has good acoustics, it means that you can hear well. Places with good acoustics include movie theatres and concert halls. However, if a room does not have good acoustics, there will be quite a bit of echo making it harder to hear.
Places with bad acoustics include school gyms and restaurants with high ceilings.
Good vs. Bad Acoustics
Good vs. Bad Acoustics
Homes often have good acoustics as there are many soft surfaces such as carpets, curtains and couches. Softer surfaces help to absorb sound and there is less echo.
Classrooms typically do not have good acoustics. Most classrooms have hard surfaces (tile floors, black/white boards, cinder block walls) and some classrooms even have metal ceilings...yikes! Because there are so many hard surfaces, sound tends to bounce around the room and this can make it harder to hear.
Hopefully, your classroom will have acoustic tiles on the ceiling rather than wood. These tiles help to absorb sound and make it easier to hear. Other things that help to absorb sound in a classroom are bulletin boards, curtains and window blinds. The next time you are in your classroom, check to see how many hard surfaces and sound absorbing surfaces you can spot.
Above: Homes usually have good acoustics with soft surfaces, such as carpets, curtains, and couches.
Below: Classrooms typically have poor acoustics because there are many hard surfaces, such as tile floors, black/ white boards, cinder block walls and high ceilings.
Below: Classrooms typically have poor acoustics because there are many hard surfaces, such as tile floors, black/ white boards, cinder block walls and high ceilings.
The Importance of Hushh-ups
The Importance of Hushh-ups
Images of Hushh-ups courtesy of: https://hushhups.ca/
Did you wonder what the “blue tennis balls” are doing on your chairs? They are actually called “Hushh-ups” and they are there to prevent the noise that comes from chairs scraping on the floor. Without Hushh-ups, it would be challenging to hear your teacher and other students talking when everyone pushes their chair back to go to their next class or out for recess.
Along with your Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, we as Educational Audiologists try our best to make sure the acoustics are as good as can be in your classrooms.
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