Acceptable noise level in learning disordered children

Acceptable noise level (ANL) measures the amount of accepted background noise while listening to the story. In the current study, ANL was carried out in chil­dren with learning disability (LD) and compared with the results of normal children by using examiner- and self-adjusted methods.
Forty seven (25 male, 22 female) normal children with good and better educational background and 46 (27 male, 19 female) LD children ranging in age from 7-12 years old were participated. ANL was assessed using an ear-level loudspeaker in front of children. The differences of ANL, most comfortable level (MCL), and background noise level (BNL) between groups and their relationship between examiner- and self-adjusted procedures were investigated.
Mean ANLs of LD children either in examiner- or self-adjusted methods (8.91±4.66 and 11.00±5.38, respectively) were worse than those of normal children (7.19±3.63 and 9.61±3.41, respectively). The difference between mean ANL of normal and LD children was statistically significant only for examiner-adjusted method (p=0.05). There were also significant differences in BNL between groups for examiner- and self-adjusted method (p ANL is clinically applicable in LD children. Moreover, LD children accept lower background noise; therefore modification of their listening environment is recommended. Because of a strong positive relationship between ANL in examiner- and self-adjusted pro­cedures, both methods can be implemented in different situations.