Teaching · Related Services

Put a number on
the loud parts of the day.

Log each reading with the room, the activity, how long it lasted and how the student responded. The log works out how far the teacher’s voice sits above the room, how much time the adult limit allows at loud levels, and an energy average across the week.

Log a readingWhat you get
$19one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $19

Included with Caveat Classroom and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Related Services toolkit, $99 for 96 items.

Noise readings

The worked example is a made-up week of four readings for one student: an empty classroom, group work, lunch and an assembly. Readings save as you type and stay in this browser.

Loading the reading form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Teaching · Related Services$19 · included with Classroom and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A dated reading per room and activity with duration, average and peak dBA, the teacher’s voice at the student’s seat, the meter used, the student’s response, supports in place and noise sources; flags for a voice less than 15 dB above the room, levels at 85 dBA or more with the time the adult limit allows, and an empty room above 35 dBA; an energy average across readings; printouts, a blank form, a spreadsheet and an export file.
Who it is for
School occupational therapists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and special education teams planning for a student with sound sensitivity.
Format
Browser log with any number of saved readings. Prints one reading, all readings or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the tool opens once you are signed in with it. Included with Caveat Classroom and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Related Services toolkit ($99) and the Teaching Suite pass ($199), and 1 more bundle. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Related Services space in Caveat Teaching.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Measure at the student’s seat for a minute or more with the same meter each time, A-weighted (dBA).
  2. Log the room, the activity, whether the room was in use and how long the activity lasted.
  3. Add the loudest moment and, during teaching, the teacher’s voice measured from the same seat.
  4. Record what the student did and which supports were in place.
  5. Mark what in the room adds noise. Bring the flags and the printout to the team meeting.

Log a reading

Reading the numbers

How loud, and for how long35 dBAEmpty classroom, design target60 dBANormal conversation75 dBABusy cafeteria85 dBAAdult work limit: 8 h94 dBA1 hour100 dBA15 minutesHow loud, and for how long35Empty classroom, design target60Normal conversation75Busy cafeteria85Adult work limit: 8 h941 hour10015 minutes
Every 3 dB doubles the sound energy, so the time allowed halves. The adult limit is a ceiling for workers, not a comfortable level for a child with sound sensitivity.

Signal over noise

What matters most for understanding speech is how far the teacher’s voice sits above the background. ASHA cites a gap of at least 15 dB for students with hearing loss; many occupied classrooms fall short. A seat nearer the teacher, a remote microphone system or quieting the air unit closes the gap.

Loud and long

NIOSH sets 85 dBA over 8 hours as the limit for workers, and halves the time for every 3 dB above it. There is no separate limit for children. Use it to spot the loudest parts of the day, such as assemblies, gyms and alarms, and plan warnings, breaks and ear protection for a student who needs them. This log does not test hearing; refer hearing concerns to an audiologist.

Sources

  1. Acoustical Society of America. ANSI/ASA S12.60-2010/Part 1: Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools: 35 dBA background noise for core learning spaces.
  2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Classroom Acoustics (asha.org): signal-to-noise ratio of at least +15 dB for students with hearing loss.
  3. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Noise Exposure (DHHS NIOSH Publication 98-126): 85 dBA over 8 hours with a 3 dB exchange rate.
  4. U.S. Access Board. Classroom Acoustics (access-board.gov): background noise and reverberation in classrooms.

The worked example is made up. Phone sound meter apps vary in accuracy; use a calibrated meter for any reading you report. This log records conditions; it is not a hearing test or an evaluation. Your readings stay on this device until you print or export them. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.