Healthcare facility environments are often designed for infection control and washability, but not to support a quiet space, according to an article on the Architecture and Design website.
A study by acoustical engineers at Johns Hopkins University said hospital noise levels have grown steadily over the past five decades.
A hospital’s walls may be the first line of defense in acoustic design, but the floor and ceiling can also control noise, experts say.
Hospitals that replace "hard-lid" ceilings with high-performance acoustic panels have been able to reduce decibel levels and improve patient sleep without sacrificing cleanliness or infection control, the article said.
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