The impact of classroom soundfield systems on reading fluency in normal-hearing students
Abstract This study investigated the impact of soundfield amplification (SFA) on reading fluency in normal-hearing students (n = 84) aged 8–10 years. Twenty-three grade 3 and 4 classes participated across three academic terms, alternating between SFA-On and SFA-Off conditions. Reading fluency was as...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | npj Science of Learning |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00350-1 |
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| author | Lucy Shiels Peter Carew Dani Tomlin Gary Rance |
| author_facet | Lucy Shiels Peter Carew Dani Tomlin Gary Rance |
| author_sort | Lucy Shiels |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study investigated the impact of soundfield amplification (SFA) on reading fluency in normal-hearing students (n = 84) aged 8–10 years. Twenty-three grade 3 and 4 classes participated across three academic terms, alternating between SFA-On and SFA-Off conditions. Reading fluency was assessed using the Wheldall Assessment of Reading Passages. Baseline cognitive abilities, including non-verbal intelligence, auditory working memory, speech discrimination in noise, and attention, were also evaluated. Results showed no significant overall difference in reading fluency development between SFA-On and SFA-Off conditions. However, intelligence was mildly predictive of the reading fluency advantage obtained during SFA-On periods, with lower-IQ students benefiting more from amplification. The study’s findings suggest that while SFA may not provide universal academic benefits for all students, it may offer advantages to students with lower cognitive abilities, suggesting it is a valuable support for the many classrooms that do not meet recommended acoustic standards. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-119e99a75d7b44eb9e7e02c3c035e870 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2056-7936 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Science of Learning |
| spelling | doaj-art-119e99a75d7b44eb9e7e02c3c035e8702025-08-24T11:09:03ZengNature Portfolionpj Science of Learning2056-79362025-08-011011810.1038/s41539-025-00350-1The impact of classroom soundfield systems on reading fluency in normal-hearing studentsLucy Shiels0Peter Carew1Dani Tomlin2Gary Rance3Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of MelbourneDepartment of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of MelbourneDepartment of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of MelbourneDepartment of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of MelbourneAbstract This study investigated the impact of soundfield amplification (SFA) on reading fluency in normal-hearing students (n = 84) aged 8–10 years. Twenty-three grade 3 and 4 classes participated across three academic terms, alternating between SFA-On and SFA-Off conditions. Reading fluency was assessed using the Wheldall Assessment of Reading Passages. Baseline cognitive abilities, including non-verbal intelligence, auditory working memory, speech discrimination in noise, and attention, were also evaluated. Results showed no significant overall difference in reading fluency development between SFA-On and SFA-Off conditions. However, intelligence was mildly predictive of the reading fluency advantage obtained during SFA-On periods, with lower-IQ students benefiting more from amplification. The study’s findings suggest that while SFA may not provide universal academic benefits for all students, it may offer advantages to students with lower cognitive abilities, suggesting it is a valuable support for the many classrooms that do not meet recommended acoustic standards.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00350-1 |
| spellingShingle | Lucy Shiels Peter Carew Dani Tomlin Gary Rance The impact of classroom soundfield systems on reading fluency in normal-hearing students npj Science of Learning |
| title | The impact of classroom soundfield systems on reading fluency in normal-hearing students |
| title_full | The impact of classroom soundfield systems on reading fluency in normal-hearing students |
| title_fullStr | The impact of classroom soundfield systems on reading fluency in normal-hearing students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of classroom soundfield systems on reading fluency in normal-hearing students |
| title_short | The impact of classroom soundfield systems on reading fluency in normal-hearing students |
| title_sort | impact of classroom soundfield systems on reading fluency in normal hearing students |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00350-1 |
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