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| The
need for improved classroom acoustics has become
a focal point for the acoustics community over the
past few years. Following the American with Disabilities
Act of 1990, good acoustics have become imperative
in classrooms across the United States to ensure
that hearing-impaired students are not disadvantaged.
However, poor classroom acoustics also hinder 'normal
hearing' students, particularly those with learning
disabilities, those who speak English as a second
language, and young children who may not be able
to complete sentences from context due to limited
vocabulary.
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| This
research looks at two acoustical aspects which
directly influence speech intelligibility in
classrooms: (1) background noise levels, and
(2) reverberation times within the classroom.
The background noise results are coupled with
analysis of the existing building mechanical
system, while the reverberation times are related
to the room materials and shape. Subjective
ratings of the classroom's acoustics provided
by the teachers and students are linked to these
objective measures. The resulting database provides
knowledge on the current status of classrooms
in Omaha, and may be indicative of classroom
situations across the United States.
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