Aircraft noise and children: Longitudinal and cross-sectional evidence on adaptation to noise and the effectiveness of noise abatement

Assessed the impact of noise on attentional strategies, learned helplessness, performance on cognitive tasks, and blood pressure. Third and 4th graders were tested on the same measures twice, with a 1-yr interval between sessions. Longitudinal data were used to determine whether Ss adapted to aircraft noise over the 1-yr period and to assess the effectiveness of noise abatement interventions introduced in a number of noise-impacted classrooms. Additional cross-sectional data are presented to provide further information on the utility of noise abatement. In general, there was little evidence for adaptation to noise over the 1-yr period. Noise abatement had small ameliorative effects on cognitive performance, Ss' ability to hear their teachers, and school achievement.