Investigating the impact of nocturnal aircraft noise on children’s sleep, cognitive performance and annoyance: The MIDAS-study

Abstract

Disturbances of sleep are the most serious effect of nocturnal traffic noise exposure. Studies on the influence of nocturnal aircraft noise on the sleep of children have hardly been carried out so far. In an ongoing field study, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) investigates the impact of aircraft noise on sleep and related psychological reactions of 50 children aged 8 to 10 years living in the vicinity of Cologne/Bonn Airport, Germany. Children are investigated polysomnographically during four consecutive nights. In the morning, they retrospectively rate their sleep quality, problems falling asleep, acute fatigue, and short-term annoyance. Subsequently, cognitive performance is measured via age-appropriate computer-assisted tests. Long-term annoyance and disturbance, and relevant psychological moderator variables are also assessed. In parallel, a corresponding survey is administered to the parents of the participating children. Up to now, both children and parents have rated the study procedure and methodology positively. Strain due to the study protocol has been considered as small. Methods of the study are presented in detail and preliminary results regarding the adequacy of the methodology are discussed.