Noise problems in schools, unfortunately, are only intensified by the hard wall, ceiling and floor materials that are typically used in schools—echoing and high reverberation times can make it even harder to hear.

While using a sound masking system in a classroom isn’t appropriate (because students would have a harder time hearing their teacher), sound masking can be an effective treatment in areas that require noise control and speech privacy. Administrative and counseling offices, staff rooms, libraries, computer and health centers, research laboratories, student unions and residential halls—all of these could benefit from sound masking.