GUIDES12 min read
Hospital Noise Delays Patient Recovery — The Evidence That's Changing Healthcare Design
WHO Night Noise Guidelines recommend 30 dB LAeq for hospital wards. Measured ICU noise levels regularly exceed 70 dB(A). Research from Johns Hopkins, the Karolinska Institute, and NHS trusts shows that every 10 dB above threshold adds 0.5–1.0 days to patient recovery. The evidence and the acoustic solutions.
March 14, 2026hospital noise recoveryICU noise