Transportation noise effects on children's learning and cognition

The effect of environmental noise exposure on children’s cognitive performance and learning outcomes has been researched since the early 1970s, with researchers trying to quantify the potential impact of environmental noise exposure at school or home on children’s cognitive skills and school attainment, largely by comparing children with high noise exposure with children with lower noise exposure. To date, over 20 studies have shown a negative effect of noise on children’s reading and memory skills1, with many of these studies examining the effects of aircraft noise exposure and some studies examining road traffic noise. Recent years have seen several methodological advancements in the field including the use of larger epidemiological community samples and better characterisation of noise measurement. Evidence from longitudinal studies is beginning to emerge, and studies have started to examine exposure-effect relationships, to identify thresholds for noise effects on cognition which can be used to inform guidelines for children’s noise exposure.