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LONDON, Jun 02, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- British researchers said Thursday children exposed to high levels of aircraft noise could suffer impairments in their reading ability.
The effects of noise at home and at school and ways to counter them should be examined, researchers at the University of London write in the June 4 issue of the British journal The Lancet.
The researchers assessed aircraft and road traffic noise at 89 schools located near major airports in the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. Comparing the results to cognitive tests of 2,800 children ages 9 to 10 who attended the schools, the researchers found an association between aircraft noise and impaired reading comprehension. Reading age in children was delayed by up to 2 months by a 5 decibel increase in aircraft noise.
Surprising, the researchers also found road traffic noise was associated with improved memory, those exposure to both types of noise appeared to increase stress in children and reduce their quality of life.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
