Effects of Acoustic Environments on Well-Being in Sensory-Vulnerable Populations: A Systematic Review

Background: Acoustic environments profoundly influence the well-being of sensory-vulnerable populations. This review aimed to systematically examine the effects of acoustic environments on the well-being of sensory-vulnerable populations across three domains: health, cognition, and emotion. Methods: This review was reported based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025. The certainty of evidence (CoE) was assessed using GRADE approach. Results: A total of 180 articles were included in the review. Among sensory-vulnerable populations, unfavorable acoustic environments were generally associated with poorer health status, reduced cognitive performance, and more adverse emotional outcomes. The consistency of evidence varied across outcome categories, and the research focus differed among population groups. Specifically, studies on older adults focused on disease risk and general cognitive status; children primarily exhibited cognitive and learning-related impacts; the hearing loss group showed issues predominantly related to speech perception and auditory burden; and patient populations were characterized by effects on clinical recovery, sleep quality, and emotional well-being. The CoE for most outcome categories was rated as low or very low. Conclusion: Acoustic environments are closely associated with the well-being of sensory-vulnerable populations. However, the certainty of the current evidence remains limited. These findings may provide useful implications for acoustic design in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Further high-quality research is needed to strengthen the evidence base and improve the well-being of sensory-vulnerable populations.