DesignForAbility: Enhancing Daily Living

Hello everyone! It feels great to be back. The end of the school year is always a whirlwind, and while I’ve been incredibly busy wrapping things up, I’ve also been eager to get back to our “Design For Ability: Beyond The Obvious” series. Thank you for your patience as I navigated the demands of the classroom. As the title suggests, this series challenges us to look deeper, beyond the most apparent aspects of design. While our last article explored the nuances of lighting, today, I want to shine a light – or rather, lend an ear – to sound. It’s a sensory input that’s constantly with us, subtly shaping our experiences, and for many, it can be a significant source of comfort or profound discomfort

I’ve been talking about making our spaces work better for everyone, and in a previous article, The Lighting Factor, I wrote about how light can affect us in surprising ways, even through sound. I shared a memory from my music studies about a fluorescent light with a hum that was almost a musical note – a small thing that really stuck out and could be distracting.

That got me thinking more about sound in general. Just like the hum of a light can bother some people, so can all the other noises we deal with. For many of us – maybe you have sensitive hearing, or you know someone who does, or maybe just getting older makes noise more of an issue – the sounds around us can really change how we experience a place. It can feel peaceful, or it can make you feel stressed and overwhelmed.

Take a minute to listen to the world around you. The traffic, people talking, announcements, phone alerts – it’s a lot! For some folks, it’s not just background noise; it can be too much to handle, making it hard to think, giving them headaches, and making them want to just get away. What are some of the noisiest places you have to be in regularly?

And it’s not just outside. Inside our buildings can be noisy too:

• Open offices where everyone’s conversations blend together with ringing phones and typing.
• Restaurants and cafes where it’s a struggle to hear the person you’re with.
• Schools where hallways echo and cafeterias are a constant roar.
• Even our homes can trap and bounce sound around, making it hard to find a quiet corner. Thinking about your own home, are there certain rooms where sounds seem louder or echo more?

Beyond the obvious loud noises, it’s important to recognize the significant impact that seemingly innocuous “background noise” can have on individuals with sensory processing disorders (SPD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and varying degrees of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). What many perceive as an unremarkable hum, a distant whir, or the gentle clatter of daily life can be an overwhelming and distressing assault on the sensory systems of these individuals. For someone with auditory sensitivities, the constant drone of a refrigerator, the ticking of a clock, the low-frequency rumble of traffic outside, or even the murmur of a television in another room can be intensely distracting and emotionally dysregulating. These sounds aren’t simply ignored; they are often processed at a heightened level, making it difficult to filter out irrelevant stimuli and focus on tasks or conversations.

For individuals with SPD, their brains may have difficulty interpreting and organizing sensory information appropriately. This can lead to either over-responsivity or under-responsivity to sounds. In the case of over-responsivity, even soft or predictable sounds can trigger anxiety, irritability, and meltdowns. For those with ADHD, the constant presence of background noise can exacerbate difficulties with attention and concentration, making it even harder to stay on task. Individuals on the autism spectrum often experience heightened sensory sensitivities, and auditory input is frequently a significant challenge. The unpredictable nature or subtle variations in seemingly consistent background sounds can be particularly distressing, leading to sensory overload and withdrawal. The cumulative effect of these seemingly minor auditory intrusions can lead to chronic stress, fatigue, and a constant state of being on edge. Creating acoustically mindful environments, even within the home, is therefore crucial for fostering a sense of safety, calm, and well-being for these individuals.

All this noise can do more than just annoy us. For people who are sensitive to sound, it can cause real problems: feeling anxious and stressed, not being able to focus, even physical pain, wanting to avoid social situations, and trouble sleeping. So, it makes you think, what can we actually do to make the sound in our spaces better for everyone?

The good news is that how we design places can have a big impact on the sound. It’s about understanding how sound works and using the right materials and layouts to control it.

Here are some key ideas for making spaces sound more comfortable:

• Soaking Up Sound: Using soft things that absorb sound instead of letting it bounce around. Think carpets, curtains, and comfy furniture. They even make special panels for walls and ceilings. Have you ever noticed how much quieter a room feels when it has a lot of soft stuff in it?
• Scattering Sound: Bouncing sound around in a way that stops loud echoes. Special uneven surfaces can help with this.
• Blocking Sound: Stopping sound from traveling between rooms by using solid doors, sealed windows, and insulation in walls. Sometimes just having a buffer space helps.
• Creating Quiet Zones: Designing areas specifically for quiet. Like the quiet section in a library. How does it feel knowing there’s a place you can go to escape noise?
• Adding Calming Sounds: Sometimes gentle background sounds like nature sounds can help cover up distracting noises.

Using these ideas can really change how a place feels.

• In schools: Classrooms with sound-absorbing panels can help kids hear better and focus more. Quiet corners can be a refuge for kids who get overwhelmed
• In offices: Using soft materials and quiet areas can help people concentrate and feel less stressed.
• In hospitals: Lowering noise levels can help patients heal and feel calmer.
• In our homes: Even simple things like rugs and curtains can make a big difference.

Just like we’re learning to make places easier to see and move around in, we need to think about how they sound too. Making choices about sound isn’t just about being quiet; it’s about creating spaces where everyone can feel comfortable, concentrate, and thrive.

Thinking about your own daily life, what specific sounds do you find particularly challenging or intrusive? Conversely, what are spaces where the acoustic design actually made you feel noticeably more relaxed or at ease? 

Sharing these personal experiences can offer valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t in the realm of sound. As we continue our collective exploration into the multifaceted and vital world of accessible design, your perspective is key. What are your thoughts on how we can prioritize and advocate for more sensory-friendly soundscapes in our communities?

About the Author

This post is written by Taylor Adapt, a Special Education teacher with experience in both Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe settings. The use of the pseudonym allows for focus on the shared experiences and insights of the community, maintaining objectivity in this exploration of accessible design