Caspian Journal of Pediatrics

Background: Acoustic noise is one of the universal pollutants of modern society. Although the high level of noise adverse effects on human hearing has been known for many years, non-auditory effects of noise such as effects on cognition, learning, memory and reading, especially on children, have been less considered. Factors which have negative impact on these features can also have a negative effect on learning and education development. In the present study, the effects of traffic noise were studied as pollutant on memory and auditory verbal learning of elementary school children.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 166 normal children aged 9-11 years. Eighty children were selected from noisy areas (Leq> 50 dBA) and compared with 86 children from low noise areas (Leq <50 dBA). Using Persian version of the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test, various aspects of memory were studied in low noise and noisy environments.

Findings: A significant difference was observed between two groups in all steps of the Rey test (p=0.00). There was a significant difference between two genders in various steps of Rey test (p=0.00). The average score of recognition was higher in the low noise group than the noisy one (p=0.00).

Discussion and conclusion:  Traffic noise had an adverse effect on the auditory verbal learning and memory of the studied students. Its effect is more on boys than girls. Since learning is very important in the development of students’ education and social skills, therefore, it is necessary to reduce the noise exposure of students in schools.