The meaning of sound environment for children with special needs: Action research on room acoustics in the child development support center

This study aimed to investigate the meaning of the sound environment for children with special needs. We conducted action research on room acoustics in a child development support center. First, we investigated actual conditions through acoustic measurement, behavioral observation, and interviews with teachers. Results revealed loud voices, for example, crying and screaming voices, as daily sounds. The teachers had awareness of the problems with sound environment. In addition, it was observed that the teacher was personally engaged with the child to support their language development and communication skills. They tried to speak politely, indicating a need for a sound environment that facilitates calm communication with children. Second, we conducted an experiment to improve the sound absorption performance in the classroom. The effects of the alleviation of noisiness and enhancement of calmness were confirmed in the sound environment. From the interviews, we discovered that experiencing an environment with different reverberations was an opportunity for teachers to become aware of their own voices.