Even moderate levels of noise (similar to a busy street) may damage hearing. Tracey Pollard is Research Programme Manager in the Biomedical research Team at UK charity Action on Hearing Loss. She tells us about ‘hidden hearing loss’ and some of the research Action on Hearing Loss is funding into noise-induced hearing loss. Hidden hearing loss Exposure to very loud sounds (such as a chainsaw) can permanently damage your hearing and cause significant hearing loss. […]

It’s that time of year when students of all ages need quiet time as they knuckle down to study for exams. Once exams are over, however, the end of term party season begins. This is a particular problem in areas with large student populations. Recent research on student accommodation requirements published in Landlord Today reveals that students want communal space. However, too often poor layout in properties means this space is next to the bedrooms […]

Noise Action Week 19th - 20th May 2014 – is here to help Noise is never out of the news for long – whether it’s Brian May’s bother with Kensington basement builders or suburban dog owners being fined for neglecting barking pets. The evidence against noise is clear – last year housing think tank Hact1 found noise has a greater impact on people’s happiness than vandalism or condensation. A recent report on environmental groups2 found […]

High-speed hand dryers are an engineering success story, chiming with the prevailing agenda of austerity and sustainability, but what is the trade off? As someone with normal hearing, Dr. John Drever found the new generation of power hand dryers in WC’s intrusive. On becoming a father he became aware of how the sudden triggering of aggressive sound in a quiet space can panic children and others sensitive to noise – prompting his investigation of the […]

Married to a snorer, specialist in sleep medicine and organiser of last week’s Stop Snoring Week, Marianne Davey knows that for most snorers and their bed partners snoring is no laughing matter. For bed partners who sleep with a snorer the most cited complaint is sleep disturbance. In clinical trials it was found that these bed partners suffered worse sleep efficiency, increased arousals and a greater percentage of lighter sleep than those with a non-snorer. […]