Noise control

Module-4
Noise
• Noise is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud, or disruptive to
hearing.
• From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired
sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water.
• The difference arises when the brain receives and perceives a sound.

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Sound Measurement
• Sound is measured based on the amplitude and frequency of a sound wave.
• Amplitude measures how forceful the wave is.
• The energy in a sound wave is measured in decibels (dB), the measure of
loudness, or intensity of a sound; this measurement describes the amplitude
of a sound wave.
• On the other hand, pitch describes the frequency of a sound and is measured
in hertz (Hz)

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Noise and loss of hearing
Loud noise can damage the cells and membranes in the cochlea. This can cause
hearing loss, which can be temporary or permanent.
How loud noise causes hearing loss
• Overworks hair cells
• Listening to loud noise for a long time can overwork hair cells in the ear, which
can cause these cells to die.
• Damages auditory nerve
• If the auditory nerve is damaged due to loud noise, it most likely will stay that
way and it can't be fixed.

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• Symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss
• Speech and other sounds seem muffled
• Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds
• Trouble understanding conversations when you are in a noisy place
• How to prevent noise-induced hearing loss
• Avoid or limit exposure to excessively loud sounds
• Turn down the volume of music systems
• Move away from the source

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Normal hearing and hearing loss
• Normal hearing is defined as having hearing thresholds of 20 dB or better in both
ears. The normal hearing frequency range for a healthy young person is about 20 to
20,000Hz. The normal audible range for loudness is from 0 to 180dB, but anything
over 85dB is considered damaging.
• Hearing loss can be mild, moderate, severe, or profound. The most common type of
hearing loss is sensorineural loss, which can be caused by:
• Aging
• Exposure to loud noise
• Injury
• Disease
• Certain drugs
• An inherited condition

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Temporary hearing loss from continuous noise
• Sometimes exposure to impulse or continuous loud noise causes a temporary
hearing loss that disappears 16 to 48 hours later.

Permanent haring loss from continuous noise

• Listening to loud noise for a long time can overwork hair cells in the ear, which
can cause these cells to die.
• The hearing loss progresses as long as the exposure continues.
• Harmful effects might continue even after noise exposure has stopped.
• Damage to the inner ear or auditory neural system is generally permanent

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Physiological effects of noise
• Noise exposure can have many physiological effects, including:
Hearing loss
• Long-term exposure to noise can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and other hearing
problems
Cardiovascular effects
• Noise can cause hypertension, vasoconstriction, and other cardiovascular problems
Sleep disturbances
• Chronic noise exposure can cause sleep disturbances, restlessness, and lowered REM
Mental health
• Noise can cause increased stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health
problems

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Other effects of noise include:
• Speech interference
• Lost productivity
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease

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Specific effects of noise
Noise pollution can have many effects on humans and animals, including:
• Physical: Respiratory agitation, racing pulse, high blood pressure, headaches,
gastritis, colitis, and heart attacks
• Mental: Stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and hysteria
• Hearing: Tinnitus or deafness, especially in children and the elderly
• Sleep: Sleep disturbances
• Cognitive: Decline of cognitive capacity

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Noise exposure limits

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Continuous and intermittent noise
• Continuous noise is noise that is fairly constant over time. Intermittent noise
is noise that stops and starts, usually at irregular intervals.
• Continuous noise
• Examples: A continuously operating air conditioning unit, boilers in a power
house, heating and ventilation systems
• Characteristics: Noise that remains constant and stable over a given time
period
• Intermittent noise
• Examples: A mixture of somewhat noisy and quiet periods, different operations
or variable noise sources can cause the intermittent sound to change over time
• Characteristics: Noise levels tend to increase and decrease rapidly
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Impulse noise
• Impulse noise is a type of unwanted sound that is characterized by sharp, very
brief increases in decibel volume
• Impulse noise can be:
• A nuisance or even ignored altogether
• Temporary or permanent hearing loss
• A short-duration (less than 100 to 200 milliseconds), high-amplitude burst of
noise energy

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Self Study
• Noise control;
• control at the source,
• control at the receiver,
• control along the path.

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