When noise becomes a psychological burden, it can make us sick. Psychoacoustician Bernhard Laback on protective measures.
KURIER: Mr. Laback, what exactly is noise?
Bernhard Laback: The assessment of what we perceive as noise depends very much on the attitude of the person concerned to the signal. A motorcyclist will not be bothered by the noise of the engine, while an environmental activist may have a very big problem with it. And that with the same physical noise level.
So is noise an individual variable?
Yes, there is no concrete definition. Even very quiet noises can be perceived as noise if, for example, you take a dripping tap. That is a very low sound pressure level, little signal. Nevertheless, this can be extremely annoying, especially at night. In general: a high-pitched noise with a lot of high-frequency components, such as a circular saw, is more annoying than the noise of waves. In addition to the purely physical signal aspects, there are also psychological factors such as association and experience on the second level. These can then make a noise appear more or less disturbing.
So psychologically it is about the relationship to noise?
Correctly. Take train drivers and motorists here. For motorists, car noise is significantly less annoying than train noise, and vice versa, at the same sound pressure level. The psychological factors work primarily in the waking state. But sound also affects the body during sleep. There is a certain level of neuronal excitation that can then lead to stress reactions. If this continues, it can also lead to serious cardiovascular problems.
How exactly does that happen?
The noise creates an increased level of stress. Increased during the day by anger or aggression towards the noise. But the cortisol level in the body also rises at night due to noise pollution. This then leads to high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and other secondary diseases. But of course these are long-term effects. Especially with regard to construction site noise, this can be a major burden.
These measures can help
Can you learn to deal with noise?
This is difficult. Because it's like saying, don't think about the pink elephant. But of course you can change the circumstances.
What can be done effectively?
Better soundproof windows could be a first step. For people on busy roads or other permanent noise pollution, there are also urban subsidies for noise protection. If you don't want to do without the open window while you sleep, you can use ventilation systems. Earplugs are also helpful, as there are so many different models. There are even plugs that are fitted directly to the ear. Or headphones that block out background noise. Of course, they help when you have to concentrate. But of course you don't hear when someone calls you from the next room.
Can we also help ourselves with psychological tricks?
The consideration “where does the noise come from and what is its purpose?” Can be very helpful. If the noise is also useful, for example, which it is when building a subway, it can help to make you feel less annoyed. Unfortunately, this doesn't work with every source of noise, but tricking yourself mentally often helps.
Some fight noise with their own noise, like loud music. Isn't that a paradox?
Overlaying disturbing noise with positive noise is also a way of protection. With music or sound simulators, for example. The annoyance of noise is also related to how much it interferes with what I want to do. When I'm working on a word problem, I feel very disturbed by conversations. Music at the same volume would not affect concentration.
