Twenty-two cases of low-frequency noise complaints: a detailed investigation

Christian Sejer Pedersen, Henrik Møller, Kerstin Persson-Waye

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Abstract

In Denmark and in other industrialized countries there are cases where people complain about annoying low-frequency or infrasonic noise in their homes. Besides noise annoyance people often report other adverse effects such as insomnia, headache, lack of concentration etc. In many cases the noise can only be heard by a single person in the household, and if measurements are performed the authorities cannot find any noise exceeding the existing limits for noise. This raises the fundamental question whether the complainants are annoyed by an external physical sound, or if other explanations must be sought. The main aim of this study is to answer this fundamental question by thoroughly investigating 22 such cases. Recordings and analyses were made of the sound in the complainants’ homes. Each complainant was then invited to the laboratory where low-frequency thresholds and equal-loudness contours were measured. In a blind test it was examined if they are able to hear the sound recorded in their homes. Details from noise recordings, analysis and the experimental design are presented, however, since the experiments were finishing at the time of paper submission no results are presented at the present stage, but the final results will be presented at the conference.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of Low Frequency 2006 : 12th International Meeting on Low Frequency Noise and Vibration and its Control
Publication date2006
Pages241-250
Publication statusPublished - 2006
Event12th International Conference on Low Frequency Noise and Vibration and its Control - Bristol, United Kingdom
Duration: 18 Sept 200620 Sept 2006
Conference number: 12

Conference

Conference12th International Conference on Low Frequency Noise and Vibration and its Control
Number12
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityBristol
Period18/09/200620/09/2006

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