The Effect of a Noise Reducing Test Accommodation on Elementary Students with Learning Disabilities

Abstract

Researchers in the fields of cognitive psychology and education have been studying the negative effects of noise on human performance for almost a century. A new empirical study that builds upon past relevant research on (1) test accommodations and (2) auditory distraction and academic performance was conducted with elementary age students. Reading comprehension tasks were completed by students with and without learning disabilities while wearing and not wearing noise–reducing headphones. Results of three independent statistical analyses are presented. Implications, limitations, and the need for future research are also discussed.