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Schools can be noisy places.
Chairs scraping. Children talking. Bells ringing. Hand dryers roaring. Someone tapping a pencil. The class next door. Music practice. Playground noise. Twenty-five other students trying to find things in their pencil cases…
Noise isn’t only an issue when it’s loud enough to damage our hearing. Classroom and other environmental noise at school can also trigger sound sensitivities, contribute to sensory overload and interfere with learning.
There are some very good reasons to teach students about noise reduction earmuffs, how they can help and when they might choose to use them — and to have them readily available when needed.
Here are four.
Very loud sounds can damage hearing, and the risk depends on both how loud the sound is and how long we’re exposed to it.
Some school environments and activities can expose students to much louder sounds than they would experience in an ordinary classroom.
This is the most obvious reason why and when a student would (and should) wear noise reduction earmuffs: to protect their hearing.
Think:
If earmuffs are being used specifically for hearing protection, check the certified hearing-protection rating and make sure they fit and are worn correctly.
For some students, everyday sounds that might barely register for somebody else can feel incredibly intense, uncomfortable or distressing.
The school bell. The hand dryer. Chairs scraping across the floor. A busy assembly. Twenty conversations happening at once.
Any one of these can be triggering, or they can compound throughout the day and contribute to auditory overload.
Auditory sensitivity is particularly associated with autism and other sensory processing differences, although a student doesn’t necessarily need a particular diagnosis to find certain sounds difficult.
Noise reduction earmuffs are one way to reduce auditory input and the impact of particularly sensitive sounds or noises. For some students, this can make the school and classroom environment more accessible.
Sometimes the noise itself isn’t the problem. Instead, the noise is contributing to everything else the brain is already having to process.
Think about a busy classroom. A student may be learning something new, following teacher instructions, filtering and managing sensory input, navigating social cues and trying to work out what they’re supposed to do next.
It’s a lot.
Removing (or at least reducing) just ONE of these demands can help prevent a student from becoming overwhelmed in the classroom environment.
Reducing auditory input to lessen the overall demands a student is having to manage is a less obvious, but equally valid, reason to have noise reduction earmuffs on hand.
Sometimes a student isn’t distressed or overwhelmed by noise at all. They’re simply distracted by it and find it much easier to focus when some of those distractions are reduced.
Trying to read while other students are having a conversation. Writing while the students behind you are working on a group project. Doing calculations while students are doing PE outside the classroom. Even trying to hold information in working memory while another group is receiving instructions from the teacher can be challenging.
Research shows that background noise can interfere with students’ cognitive and academic performance.
Using noise reduction earmuffs as a strategy to support learning and focus is often overlooked. They won’t help every student concentrate, but for students who are easily distracted, reducing unnecessary sounds can help.
And for students who need to study or really focus on a task, creating their own little “silo” of quiet can work well.
So why might a student use noise reduction earmuffs at school?
1. To protect their hearing.
2. To manage sound sensitivity.
3. To reduce sensory overload.
4. To reduce auditory distractions while working.
Instead of keeping one pair hidden in the sensory cupboard for a particular student, having multiple pairs of noise reduction earmuffs readily available as part of the classroom toolkit can be a smart approach.
Teach students what they’re for and how they can be useful. Normalise their use. Encourage students to recognise when earmuffs might help them, and to use them as needed to regulate and maximise their learning.
We wanted our Starfish Noise Reduction Earmuffs to be effective, practical and, importantly, comfortable enough that students actually want to wear them.
They feature:
Some of the feedback we’ve received so far has been that they’re “the most comfortable we’ve ever found” and “they’re the only ones that I can wear.”
Whether earmuffs are being used for hearing protection, sound sensitivity, sensory overload or simply to create a quieter space to concentrate, comfort matters.
Every student experiences the school environment differently. What feels like ordinary background noise to one student can be distracting, overwhelming or uncomfortable for another.
Having noise reduction earmuffs available isn’t about expecting every student to use them. It’s about giving students another tool, teaching them what it’s for and helping them recognise when it might be useful.
Sometimes that’s hearing protection. Sometimes it’s managing sound sensitivity or sensory overload. And sometimes they simply need a little less noise so they can get on with their work.
The more we normalise different tools for different learners, the easier it becomes for students to use the support that works for them.
Warm regards,
Kirstie
Starfish Store
Kirstie Wishart M.Ed (Special Education).
Owner and founder of The Starfish Store. Kirstie’s professional life has included: teaching (in both public and private schools in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand), lecturer and subject coordinator at the University of Wollongong, Educational consultant (working with children and young people with a trauma background), OoHC Case Work Manager, and Specialist Tutor (working with children and young people with significant learning difficulties and/or disabilities).
40 Proprioceptive activities for the classroom. Simple and practical activities to incorporate Proprioceptive into the classroom. 16 A4 sheets to print for your classroom, therapy space or home.