OBJECTIVES: To study the level of sound pressure in a public school in Vitoria, ES, as compared to the levels permitted by the Associação Brasileira de Normas e Técnicas (ABNT, Brazilian Association of Technical Standards), according to regulatory norm NR 10152. CASE REPORT: Hearing loss strongly impacts the individual's quality of life, which includes work-related responsibilities. According to Brazil's rules and regulations, the level of noise inside the classroom should be 50 dB at most. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in a public school located in the urban area of Greater Vitoria. Each classroom was approximately 12 m2in size, with the capacity to accommodate25 students. Classroom noise levels weremeasured using an Instrutherm decibel meter (model DEC-490) during routine classes in which students interacted with the teacher.RESULTS: The noise levels in the classrooms in this particular school were 62.1 dB(A) and 87.9 dB(A), much higher than allowed by ABNT regulatory norms (NR 10152). DISCUSSION: The noise levels of these classrooms are higher than allowed by established ABNT norms. Strategies for noise level reduction must be developed and implemented in order to improve the quality of this work and learning environment.
