Do Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Improve Office Productivity?

Can headphones increase focus and productivity in a noisy office, or is this a marketing myth?!

A recent study published in September 2024 examined this very question.

They found that wearing active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones did not directly improve worker performance or reduce stress measures such as heart rate variability. However, they did create a more pleasant sound environment by reducing ambient noise distractions. Researchers stressed that ANC headphones alone should not be the only measure against speech distractions in offices and prioritising good room acoustics is conducive to deep work.

Office noise: understanding the problem

Open-plan offices are dynamic spaces designed to improve collaboration and communication between employees. They allow more natural light, support hot-desking models and most importantly (in the eyes of business owners) offer cost efficiency with shared resources, reducing rental costs per head.

However, while open-plan offices have their benefits, it’s also essential to address the main challenge… noise!

“Speech is the most common source of distracting noise in offices”

Being able to subconsciously recognise what someone else is saying whilst working can significantly reduce cognitive performance. A lack of speech privacy and increased noise levels can significantly impact productivity and employee well-being.

In a noisy environment, most people reach for their noise-cancelling headphones, but are they actually effective at blocking out speech distractions and improving productivity? Let’s dive into the findings…

Are active noise cancelling headphones the answer?!

Participants were tested under different conditions: no headphones, over-ear headphones, and over-ear headphones with ANC turned on. Interestingly, none of these options actually improved cognitive performance.

The following graph shows how much sound is reaching the participant’s ear for each headphone configuration across different frequencies. It was proven that over-ear headphones (with or without ANC turned on) provide 10dB-30dB of sound pressure level reduction just by themselves. The results show how over-ear headphones create a more enjoyable user experience by partially reducing ambient noise. However, not all speech is blocked out.

ANC headphones and their limitations

ANC technology works by utilising tiny microphones that pick up surrounding sound and produce opposing sound waves to neutralise ambient noise. This is particularly effective for lower-frequency sound. As a result, ANC headphones are ideal for commuting on public transport or travelling on aeroplanes, where they dampen low frequency engine noise and create a personal pocket of quiet space.

Unfortunately, the typical frequency of human speech is between 400-5000 Hz (yellow shaded area), which means ANC technology is much less effective at blocking out speech. In fact, ANC headphones can actually make speech slightly more intelligible because they reduce low-frequency (up to 800 Hz) background noise, which in turn makes speech frequencies more prominent.

What are masking sounds and how can they help?

Masking noise is a steady, low-level noise within a specific frequency range. Masking is most commonly associated with ‘white noise’ which helps cover up other sounds and is designed to eventually blend into the background.

Combining masking noise with ANC headphones gave positive results within the study as they helped cover up distracting speech sounds. This combination gave the worker a decreased perception of disturbance however no improvement of productivity was noted. This suggests that ANC headphones might be best used as a comfort aid rather than as a strict productivity tool.

Interestingly, playing music is not as effective due to its lyrical content, which engages the brain in a similar way to speech. Your subconscious recognises the lyrics, consequently impacting long-term focus. A wise alternative would be to use non-distracting sounds through your headphones such as birdsong, rain or instrumental music.

Why good office acoustics are crucial for productivity

Good room acoustics play a significant role in controlling office noise more effectively. By reducing the transmission of speech across the open-plan office space, distractions are minimised for all colleagues and not only those using headphones.

“Room acoustic measures of reducing the adverse effects of speech should be primarily used to control noise in office environments”

Integrating acoustic treatment, such as sound-absorbing panels and high partitions between desks can reduce distraction distances and keep noise levels down across the entire office. This creates an environment where workers are less likely to become distracted by conversations from distant desks and are better able to maintain focus on their tasks.

Balancing personal comfort and teamwork

While ANC headphones with masking sounds can be an effective personal measure to reduce distractions and improve comfort in the workplace, this study highlights that they do not necessarily lead to improved performance or reduced stress.

It’s also important to consider that what benefits an individual might not be advantageous for the team. The regular use of headphones in open-plan offices can hinder collaboration, negating one of the key benefits of an open-plan office layout.

Combining good acoustic design with a culture of mindful sound management is the best collective approach to reduce office noise distractions, improving employee well-being and productivity. Plus, it’s always more enjoyable to work in a friendly, interactive environment.

Key takeaways:

• Speech is the most common source of distracting noise in offices.
• ANC headphones improve comfort by reducing low-frequency ambient noise but do not succeed at blocking out speech sounds.
• Recent study concluded that ANC headphones “did not show improvement in performance nor reduction of stress”.
• Pairing ANC headphones with masking sounds can help to reduce speech intelligibility.
• Music with lyrics engage the brain in a similar way to off-task speech sounds, therefore natural sounds or instrumental music is recommended.
• Good acoustic design is the most holistic approach to reducing office noise distractions.

 

 

References

Radun, Jenni, et al. “Do Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones’ Influence Performance, Stress, or Experience in Office Context?” Building and Environment, vol. 266, Dec 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112102

“How Noise Cancelling Headphones Make Aeroplane Travel Better.” Bose,
www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/better_with_bose/best-noise-cancelling-headphones-for-travel.html

Haapakangas, Annu, et al. “Distraction distance and perceived disturbance by noise-An analysis of 21 open-plan offices.” Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Jan 2017, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28147583/