Sounds produced in hospitals and other medical care facilities can have a deleterious effect on anyone, causing stress and psychological distress, in patients and staff alike. After all, the stakes are high and the spaces are usually loud and busy. Managing visitor and provider stress in any medical setting is of paramount importance. 

How might we promote a better visitor and working environment in a hospital or medical setting by addressing the constant hum of both human and machine? How do those subtle noises affect people's mood, stress levels, and cognitive load?

SoundScape Survey is a visitor facing, research tool to collect data on the auditory ecosystem in public medical areas. It is meant to measure and communicate a combination of objective metrics and one's own subjective perception 3 By mapping these sounds and their effects on visitor/worker experience, designers can begin to better understand how the soundscapes in hospital lobbies, waiting rooms, and hallways, can hurt or perhaps help us.