ASA 124th Meeting New Orleans 1992 October

3aNS5. Achievable ways ASA can promote education about noise.

Julia Doswell Royster

Environmental Noise Consultants, Inc., P.O. Box 30698, Raleigh, NC 27622

Mary Florentine

Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA 02115

There is wide agreement that meaningful educational materials and curricula about noise are badly needed. However, without government funding, most current efforts in this area are voluntary projects by private individuals and professional groups. Popular press coverage of noise effects is often sensational, and media features seldom address noise control or effective hearing protection. Public awareness of noise issues needs to be raised to create a demand for quieter products and environments. ASA could take a leadership role by making available resource packs of materials that could be copied and used by society members, educators, health professionals, and others. Model educational units are needed for students from preschool through graduate school. Duplication masters of information brochures targeted at parents and consumers could be provided to influential professionals, retailers, and manufacturers. These strategies would not only serve the public, but would also raise the visibility of ASA without being prohibitively expensive.