Overview

• A six-month study in Japan compared preschool classrooms with and without sound-absorbing polyester fiberboard ceiling tiles.
• Classrooms with acoustic treatments showed reduced noise levels and fewer instances of crying, as detected by AI-driven analysis.
• Teachers in treated classrooms reported improved verbal communication and a calmer learning environment for children.
• Japan currently lacks formal acoustic design standards for classrooms, prompting calls for policy changes to address this gap.
• The findings were presented on May 23, 2025, at the joint Acoustical Society of America and International Congress on Acoustics meeting.