Agenda - 06-27-1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

h;- • S HOW HUMANS RESPOND TO NOISE We describe noise environments in terms of exposure and effects. Up to this point , we have limited the discussion to the topiclof exposure. Now we consider some effects . For many years , scientists have been studying , measuring , and reporting on the kinds of noise to which humans respond , the amounts of noise to which they respond , and how they respond . As a nesult , these scientists have identified a range of responses to airport noise , from acceptance of the noise all the way to litigation . What they have found out is valuable information for you , but its value depends on your background knowledge of human response to noise . Below, we summarize the basic principles of human response to noise . A variety of factors influence the response of people to a noise environment. They include the potential for damaging people's hearing and the potential for interfering with activities such as speech and sleep. Anyone or a combination of these factors can result in reaction 411 by people . When that reaction is by a group , it is called "community response ." Let' s review those key words again : hearing damage , speech interference, sleep and other activity interference, and annoyance and community response reaction. A brief explanation of each follows , together with a note on how or why this information is useful to you. Hearing Damage Noise-induced hearing damage is a loss in sensitivity of the ear because of exposure to noise. The loss can be temporary when the ear is exposed to a sudden loud sound , such as a firecracker explosion or gunshot) or it can be permanent (as when the ear is ex osed , over • long periods of time , to high sound levels such as are foUnd in noisy factories) . 23 - -404NI4ANIVAlirt Wien . -- i.*• Z-11 4,