Contribution

Lecture Cancelled: Evaluating Preschool Children’s Responses to Psychoacoustic Characteristics of Sharpness and Loudness in the Preschool Sound Environment

* Presenting author
Day / Time: 18.03.2025, 16:20-16:40
Typ: Invited Lectures
Abstract:

In Sweden, approximately 95% of 4-5-year-olds attend preschool, making it a critical setting for early childhood development. During these formative years, children experience essential growth in language, cognition, emotional and social skills, and auditory perception, all of which may be influenced by the preschool sound environment.This cross-sectional field study, conducted from 2022 to 2024, investigates preschool children’s responses to specific psychoacoustic characteristics, particularly sharpness and loudness, in 15 preschools in Gothenburg. A sample of 100 children aged 4-6 years participated, with 83 completing the Inventory of Noise and Children’s Health (INCH) questionnaire. This questionnaire assesses children's emotional reactions, physical responses, coping strategies, and related symptoms, providing a holistic view of how sound affects their well-being. Binaural measurements using child and adult head and torso were conducted to analyse sound perception differences.By examining the relationship between psychoacoustic characteristics and children’s responses, this study aims to investigate how children experience their preschool sound environment. The results of this analysis will be presented at the conference, offering insights into the impact of the preschool sound environment on children’s well-being.