FUNCTIONAL INTERIORS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS 4(2+2)

Lesson 24 : Hearing Handicapped - Needs and Design Pointers

Design Pointers

These are pointers that anyone designing a communication-friendly interior should consider:

1. Echoes interfere with the ability to understand speech; designers need to be aware of standards for reverberation time.
2. Background noise that comes from heating and air conditioning can make it hard to understand speech.
3. High ceilings often amplify echos; dropped acoustic ceilings can help reduce noise.
4. Hard surfaces of all kinds – hard flooring, furniture, windows, walls cause reverberation that interferes with communication. Every room design should include some sound-absorbent materials.
5. Lighting can help or hinder the communication of a person who is speech reading (lip reading). The light should be positioned to fall on the face of the speaker, but should not fall into the eyes of the hearing-impaired person. If you live with a hearing-impaired person, you should consider this when positioning lights and conversational seating. The struggle to communicate is made more difficult by the inability to see. Glare and inadequate light can intensify this feeling of loneliness. Poor lighting reduces a person's ability to read the lips and facial expressions of friends, loved ones, and caregivers. This can lead to feelings of isolation and frustration in addition to an already life changing health problem.
6. Sight lines and adequate face lighting to be able to read are also important to the hearing-impaired.
7. Room adjacency is always important in good design. No designer should abut bedrooms without an intermediary closet or soundproofing because of the “cheap motel effect.” But noise from adjacent room can be especially frustrating for those who suffer hearing loss. Placing a poorly sound-proofed air conditioner or washing machine on a wall adjacent to a living room, for example, could seriously impact the resident’s ability to talk to other family members.
8. Beware of noisy heating, air conditioning and plumbing. If you cannot place machine rooms away from conversational spaces, make sure that the machinery is surrounded by sound-absorbent material.
9. Improve windows. Windows are often the weakest part of the outer envelope of a building, and they can transmit street, traffic or aircraft noise. Double-paned and well-insulated windows will both reduce noise and improve energy performance.
10. The arrangement of furniture can also enhance the intent of the lighting design. Seating arrangements should be carefully designed and located based on the placement of windows. This can help eliminate glare and increase a person's ability to see.

By creating spaces that are not only acoustically sound, but also reduce or eliminate anxiety and isolation, one can improve the quality of life for the hearing impaired. Architects and designers who understand the importance of light can enhance the quality of the environment for those with hearing loss. It is very common to lose hearing as people age. While these pointers apply to all kinds of interiors, some places and functions require special consideration. A doctor’s office requires special wall insulation to protect the privacy of patients’ conversations during medical consultations. Classrooms need special attention to prevent reverberation and background noise. But even ordinary workplaces can benefit from noise reduction.