Noise and Children's Health
Executive Summary
Highlights
Noise (defined as unwanted and/or harmful sound) is a preventable environmental health hazard that undermines children’s health and key protective factors for their development, including sleep, learning and emotional well-being. Children's auditory systems are still developing, and their ear canals may transmit sounds differently from those of adults. Young children rely heavily on clear and consistent auditory input to acquire language skills, interpret social cues, build meaningful connections with others and develop cognitive and social-emotional skills, particularly during sensitive periods of experience-dependent brain development, when neural circuits are shaped by environmental stimuli. Reducing excessive noise is essential not only for public health, but also for upholding children’s rights to clean, healthy and sustainable environments. Many noise reduction strategies, such as limiting traffic near schools or redesigning flight paths to avoid community public spaces and residential areas, also reduce air and light pollution
