"Road-traffic noise significantly slows the development of crucial memory and attention skills in primary school children, research has found. The study of almost 2,700 children aged between seven and 10 in 38 schools in , Spain, is the first to assess the impact of traffic noise on child cognitive development over time and to determine the impact of peaks in noise. The children in the study are in a critical stage for the development of memory and attention skills, which are essential to learning. The research found that children exposed to about three times more traffic in the street than other pupils had memory development that was 23% slower and attention ability development 5% slower over a year."