Speech Perception in the Classroom.

Abstract

It is well known that excessive background noise and reverberation can be a barrier to listening and learning in the classroom. The barriers exist because poor room acoustics can make speech inaudible and can distort information-carrying elements of the speech signal. A simple speech-perception model is presented which demonstrates the linkage between the adequacy of classroom acoustics and the development of a speech and language system. Both aspects must be considered when evaluating the potential barriers to listening and learning in a classroom.