Does classroom amplification aid comprehension?

Many classrooms are noisy and this interferes with listening and teaching. FM soundfield (FM) amplification systems have been developed which provide a uniform soundfield throughout the classroom and increase the speech-signa l:noise ratio. The effect on comprehension of such a system was investigate d. Forty-nine pupils (comprising the two top classes of a mainstream primar y school) participated in this study, with a mean age of 9.92 years (range 8.58-11.42 years). The Neale Analysis of Reading Ability (Neale, 1988a, b) was modified and administered as a spoken comprehension test. Tests of nonv erbal intelligence, auditory memory and a questionnaire were given. The pas sages spoken though the FM amplification system were understood better than the comparable unamplified passages. Auditory memory, sex and non-verbal i ntelligence had no effect on improved comprehension. FM amplification signi ficantly improved comprehension and could be considered for use in other sc hools.