Sound Masking Helps Workers Focus: Make It Work for You

Back in your school days, did you ever have to slog through your required reading while there was a party going on at a neighbor’s place? If you did, then you know what it’s like to work distracting surroundings. And it also applies to the office environment. Some studies show that noise levels in an office can result in lower levels of productivity in workers. The Data Entry Management Association has found that bad acoustics in the office can result in up to a 27 percent increase in data entry errors. Recently, the average noise level in the office has been on a steady increase. Cost-cutting and efficiency measures have made offices smaller, and cubicles closer together. More workers are finding themselves in closer proximity with their co-workers, and having to deal with the noise they generate as they go about their business: phone calls, keyboard tapping, and conversations. There are more telephones and faxes, which increase the noise levels even more. All this has triggered dramatic improvements in sound masking. Now, this practice isn’t new. The ancient Romans used indoor fountains in homes to mask the noise outside. You’re probably familiar with this phenomenon yourself: have you tried to have a conversation with someone in another room while you’re in the bathroom with the water running? In essence, that is precisely the way that sound masking works. Sound – like people having a conversation, for example – carries on certain frequencies. By introducing a new, low-frequency, complementary sound, the conversation becomes harder to detect, and therefore is less distracting. Now, how do we apply this principle to the workplace? Specialists today use cutting-edge technology to provide effective sound masking. A sound is generated by speakers that are usually mounted in the ceiling tiles, which will mask certain sounds in the work environment. This sound is designed to be unobtrusive, and is soft and uniform enough so that it doesn’t become a distraction itself. Every office has unique needs that a sound masking technician has to address. The size and shape of the room that needs masking (which affects how sound travels), and the usual every day noise level (which can vary from office to office), for example. So try and consult a specialist. There are several companies out there that offer sound masking services. They can help you design your office in such a way as to ensure optimum acoustics, which will lead to greater productivity. They can also set up active masking systems for you, and make sure that your environment can help you work harder and focus better.

With the increasing noise levels in modern offices, sound masking helps to create environments that are conducive to work. This is done by generating low-frequency sounds that can cover up office noise for the listeners. Factors like the shape of the office, and the usual level of activity can also contribute. With this technology, workers can focus, ensuring that productivity isn’t reduced by the office environment.

- Frank Barnett