In recent decades, the acoustic environment has established itself as a key factor in human physical and mental health. From offices and schools to hospitals and urban spaces, the way an environment sounds has a profound impact on concentration, productivity, mood, and even cardiovascular health. While the negative effects of noise are well documented, increasing attention is also being paid to the positive potential of the sound environment—the so-called soundscape approach, in which sound quality is assessed not only by its intensity, but also by its perception, meaning, and context.
To what extent does sound really affect health?
According to the World Health Organization, excessive exposure to noise is one of the leading environmental risk factors in Europe, associated with an increased risk of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and sleep disorders. A study published in The Lancet (Basner et al., 2014) shows that chronic exposure to traffic noise leads to increased secretion of stress hormones, cognitive impairment, and long-term physiological changes.
This raises the question not only of noise reduction, but also of actively creating an acoustically healthy environment that promotes concentration and recovery.
For example, in schools, noise is directly linked to academic achievement. Recent analyses confirm that high levels of background noise and low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) make it harder to understand speech and increase cognitive load on students.
Similar dependencies are observed in offices. Employees in open-plan offices report lower productivity and higher stress levels. Typically, conversations and lack of acoustic insulation are the main sources of dissatisfaction. The implementation of standards such as the WELL Building Standard v2 introduces requirements for sound insulation, acoustic barriers, and background noise control aimed at improving well-being and concentration.
Can sound be used as a therapeutic and restorative tool?
More and more studies show that not only silence, but also certain natural sounds have a beneficial effect on the body. An analysis published in PNAS (Buxton & Abbott, 2021) shows that listening to nature sounds—such as birdsong, flowing water, or wind—lowers heart rate and anxiety levels while improving mood and cognitive function.
Acoustics also play a crucial role in hospital environments. Measurements at Johns Hopkins Hospital (Busch-Vishniac et al., 2005) found that noise levels in wards exceeded WHO recommendations, leading to sleep disturbance, delirium, and delayed recovery in patients. The implementation of measures such as "quiet hours" and the use of sound-absorbing materials significantly improve sleep quality and subjective well-being.
What is the outlook?
The contemporary soundscape approach, as defined in ISO 12913 standards, offers a new perspective: the sound environment should not simply be "quiet," but pleasant and restorative. This involves integrating positive sound elements, adapting to human perceptions, and creating conditions for acoustic comfort.
Research shows that a well-designed acoustic environment not only protects against stress and cognitive fatigue, but also encourages creativity, learning, and social interaction.
Ultimately, we can conclude that the acoustic environment is an integral part of quality of life and sustainable development. Rethinking sound as a resource rather than just a pollutant is changing the way we design buildings, cities, and public spaces.
In the context of increasing noise pollution, investing in acoustic comfort and soundscape design is not a luxury but a necessity—a key tool for creating healthier, more productive, and humane environments.
