healthy sound

The soundscape of a hospital, from the beeping of heart rate monitors to the sudden wail of alarms, can often create a disconcerting auditory environment. For those receiving care, this noise can be more than just a nuisance; it can heighten stress levels and potentially hinder the healing process.

Ambient electronic musician Yoko Sen found herself attuned to the aural environment of hospitals during her own experiences as a patient. The blaring, discordant noises contributed to her discomfort, heightening her sense of anxiety and helplessness. Therefore she is now researching in this topic.

Sound and Health: Hospitals - 99% Invisible

Sounds can have serious impacts on our wellbeing, even (or especially) in places focused on health like hospitals. This is the second episode in a two-part series supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation about how sound can be designed to reduce harm and even improve wellbeing. Check out epis…

99% Invisible99pi

Sen Sound

Sen Sound

Besides the general impact on patients it also influences the concentration of staff as several research shows:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6716652/#:~:text=In%20this%20study%2C%20we%20found,for%20the%20noise%2Dexposed%20teams.

Or here: https://boris.unibe.ch/125769/1/Keller2018_Article_NoiseInTheOperatingRoomDistrac.pdf