A scoping review of the effect of classroom acoustic conditions on university students’ listening, learning, and well-being

Purpose: University is an important time for learning; therefore, it is vital that the classroom acoustic environment is conducive for all students. The aim of this scoping review was to determine what is known from the literature about the effect of classroom acoustic conditions on university students' listening, learning, and well-being and identify future research needs.

Method: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews protocol. After a search of four online databases, a total of 29 articles met the criteria to be included in the review.

Results: The scoping review revealed that poor classroom acoustic conditions such as increased noise, decreased signal-to-noise ratio, increased reverberation time, decreased clarity, or decreased speech transmission index largely have a negative effect on university students' listening, learning, and well-being. Nonnative speakers were more adversely affected than native speakers. Students with hearing loss were also more adversely affected, though these students were only included in two studies.

Conclusions: It would be beneficial for acoustic modifications to be made in classrooms to enhance students' listening, learning, and well-being. Limitations of the reviewed studies and future research needs are discussed.