diff --git a/components/Layout.tsx b/components/Layout.tsx
index c44185b..1efd334 100644
--- a/components/Layout.tsx
+++ b/components/Layout.tsx
@@ -44,13 +44,14 @@ export const Layout: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode }> = ({ children }) =>
   const [notifications, setNotifications] = useState<any[]>([]);
   const [showNotifications, setShowNotifications] = useState(false);
   const unreadCount = notifications.filter(n => !n.is_read).length;
-  const previousUnreadCountRef = React.useRef(unreadCount);
+  const previousUnreadCountRef = React.useRef(0);
+  const isInitialLoadRef = React.useRef(true);
 
   const playNotificationSound = () => {
     if (currentUser?.sound_enabled !== false) {
       const audio = new Audio('/audio/notification.mp3');
       audio.volume = 0.5;
-      audio.play().catch(e => console.log('Audio play failed (browser policy):', e));
+      audio.play().catch(e => console.log('Audio play failed:', e));
     }
   };
 
@@ -58,12 +59,15 @@ export const Layout: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode }> = ({ children }) =>
     const data = await getNotifications();
     setNotifications(data);
     
-    // Check if there are new unread notifications
     const newUnreadCount = data.filter((n: any) => !n.is_read).length;
-    if (newUnreadCount > previousUnreadCountRef.current) {
+    
+    // Only play sound if it's NOT the first load AND the count actually increased
+    if (!isInitialLoadRef.current && newUnreadCount > previousUnreadCountRef.current) {
       playNotificationSound();
     }
+    
     previousUnreadCountRef.current = newUnreadCount;
+    isInitialLoadRef.current = false;
   };
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -110,7 +114,7 @@ export const Layout: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode }> = ({ children }) =>
     };
     fetchCurrentUser();
     loadNotifications();
-    const interval = setInterval(loadNotifications, 60000);
+    const interval = setInterval(loadNotifications, 10000);
     return () => clearInterval(interval);
   }, [navigate]);