Effects of constant noise...

[agdhani]

(have researched waterfall noise, effects of constant white noise, affects of noise pollution, living with constant noise...and several variations there of...but nothing is really telling me what I need to know

Comments

[tarvae]

They probably wouldn't hear it - if it's ALWAYS there it becomes background and is filtered out. I grew up in the flight path of a military airbase and only noticed the noise if something was out of the ordinary like a different type of engine or a mechanical issue.

There might be a few individuals who would notice it and find it stressful but they'd be the exception not the rule.

[tarvae]

Also http://blog.ted.com/2013/04/24/9-ways-that-sound-affects-our-health-wellbeing-and-productivity/ is informative on the effects that the people might not notice

[thistle_chaser]

Seconding this. I grew up next to an airport, and the jet noises were loud enough to make every window shake, but I never heard it.

[zinnea]

The US EPA has a section on noise pollution including guides to its health effects and protection from it: http://www.epa.gov/air/noise.html

[3rdragon]

I've been to Victoria Falls, and when the water is high, it can be hard to talk near the waterfall -- and that's from the top of the canyon. The video my friend took on his (still) camera at the peak of dry season -- so lowest water -- is unpleasantly loud at the volume I usually keep my computer at, though I don't remember it being annoying in person

[maekala]

I don't know what volume you're thinking of having, but I've had tinnitus all my life, so I constantly hear a background noise that sounds like a combination of white noise and a high pitch whine. Personally, my way of coping involves listening to music/TV pretty much 24/7 to drown it out. Unfortunately, with a dystopian society, I'm not sure how practical that would be. I guess they could use something like a metronome or something else that gives a steady beat to help break the waterfall sound.

And, as a way to research it, you might try checking severe tinnitus. You'll get a lot on people who have temporary tinnitus after loud concerts/loud noises, but there is some new stuff going on for those of us who have it permanently.

[tabaqui]

Honestly, a constant noise like that? If you're born to it? It's nothing. It's background. We live right off the 'main' road through our little town, with cars and sirens going by, and i starting sleeping through them right about day four. It's amazing what your brain can do. And, like i said, anyone born to that? Wouldn't even think about it. It would be *leaving* that area that would be weird to them - they might think they'd gone deaf.