Does Aircraft Noise Impair Learners' Reading Comprehension, Attention and Working Memory? A Pilot Study

Abstract

The study sought to determine whether the cognitive performance of learners is affected by exposure to aircraft noise. The cognitive performance (reading comprehension, attention and memory) of 174 learners aged 9–13 years (males = 69, females = 68; Unidentified = 37), attending a public school in a high aircraft noise areas was compared with that of learners attending a matched public school with typical noise for a school setting. Cognitive performance was assessed by means of a reading comprehension test, as well as tests of attention, intelligence, working memory, and episodic memory. Significant between group differences were observed in reading comprehension and sustained visual attention.