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Discover what the Lombard effect is
When noise forces us to speak louder in offices and shared spaces
In a noisy office, people often begin to speak increasingly loudly without realising it. One conversation gets louder, another person responds by raising their voice, and the environment becomes increasingly noisy. This phenomenon is known as the Lombard effect.
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The Lombard effect explains how we adapt the way we speak when there is background noise. In open-plan offices and shared spaces, it can affect concentration, comfort and well-being. In this article, we will therefore help you understand it better.
What the Lombard effect is
Why we raise our voices when there is noise
Our brains adapt our communication when there is background noise. If we sense that our voice cannot be heard clearly, we speak more loudly or enunciate more.
Although this response makes communication easier, it can increase ambient noise in shared spaces. Furthermore, speaking loudly for long periods can cause vocal strain and mental fatigue.
Everyday examples of the Lombard effect
In an open-plan office, several people taking calls can cause the overall volume to rise quickly. The same happens in dining areas, break areas or meeting rooms with poor acoustics.
When sound bounces off hard walls, ceilings or floors, voices blend together and it becomes more difficult to have a normal conversation. It may also be more noticeable in hot desking models, where many people share a space and change desks according to their needs.
How the Lombard effect occurs in the office
Open-plan offices with too many conversations
Open-plan offices facilitate collaboration, but several simultaneous conversations and video calls can quickly raise the noise level. The Lombard effect then occurs as a natural response, but it contributes to increasing the background noise even further.
Spaces without designated areas
Not all tasks require the same environment. Some require concentration, others collaboration, and others privacy for calls or meetings.
Separating quiet work zones, collaborative areas and spaces for calls helps reduce distractions and avoids the need to constantly raise your voice.
Furniture and space planning
Furniture also affects acoustic comfort. An office with desks placed too close together, few sound-absorbing surfaces and no partitions can allow conversations to travel easily.
Besides taking care of the acoustics, it is important to create comfortable, well-organised workstations. Having office chairs for working comfortably helps improve daily well-being, especially in spaces where people spend many hours sitting and need to maintain their concentration.
Lighting, comfort and the perception of noise
Noise is not the only factor that affects well-being in the office. Lighting, temperature, ergonomics and the organisation of the space also influence how we perceive the working environment. An uncomfortable space can make any distraction feel more annoying.
For example, poorly chosen lighting can increase visual and mental fatigue. If you are reviewing the conditions of your workstation, you may also be interested in finding out whether white light or yellow light is better for working, as suitable lighting helps create a more comfortable and productive environment.
How to reduce the Lombard effect in workspaces
Improve office acoustics
Sound-absorbing panels, carpets, curtains, screens or dividers help reduce reverberation and limit the spread of voices. Renovation is not always necessary. Changing some materials or rearranging the furniture can significantly improve the acoustics.
Create guidelines for acoustic etiquette
Establishing simple guidelines, such as taking long calls in designated rooms or avoiding conversations near concentration workstations, helps control noise. The aim is to facilitate communication without turning it into a distraction for others.
Design spaces according to the type of task
Separating collaborative areas from concentration workstations and placing call rooms away from quiet areas helps reduce background noise. When each activity has its own space, the need to raise your voice decreases and overall comfort improves.
Understanding the Lombard effect helps create more comfortable offices
The Lombard effect is a natural reaction that causes us to speak louder when there is noise. In an office, it can lead to a gradual increase in volume, more distractions and greater fatigue.
Improving the acoustics, arranging the different areas effectively and adapting the space to each task can reduce this effect and create a more comfortable working environment.
