BBC report discusses noise sensitivity

by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

Photo credit: Matheus Bertelli

This recent BBC article by reporter Katarina Zimmer notes that although noise sensitivity is often dismissed by doctors, it can have long-term effects on physical and mental health. Zimmer is among those who are sensitive to noise, a group that may range from 1% to 40% of the population.  As she reports, researchers in New Zealand found brain changes in individuals more sensitive to noise.

I guess noise sensitivity is just “in our minds” after all.

Regardless of whether one is more sensitive to noise than others, noise has adverse effects on hearing and non-auditory health effects as well. For living things, noise is harmful and/or unwanted sound. For everyone — those sensitive to noise and those not bothered by noise — a quieter world will be a better and healthier world for all.