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Noise And Stress Noise Pollution Term Paper

While some feel that noise is not a distraction if you are used to it, there are other studies that vehemently oppose such claims. "Noise affects more than our health and quality of life; it even influences social behavior and cognitive development. In 1997, a Cornell University study found that children exposed to frequent airplane noise don't learn to read as well as other children. Excessive background noise caused the children to tune out human voices and interfered with their language acquisition. The psychologists who conducted the study speculated that as a result of noise pollution, parents and teachers were also less willing to speak or read aloud." (Blanchard, 1998) Noise research has been suffering from some serious drawbacks which have caused many to question the veracity of claims made by various studies. While some maintain that noise is a distraction and causes stress, others feel it is only about habituation. The more accustomed you grow, the lesser the impact of noise. However it is also found that degree of sensitively may also vary. Not every person responds to noise levels in the same manner. Some people are more sensitive to noise than others. But even within this group, it is likely that not everyone's reaction would be similar. Within the noise-sensitive group, some noises are found more distracting and disturbing than others. (Watson & Clark, 1984). Similarly it was found that people who are sensitive to noise are more concerned about deteriorating quality of life and potential impact on noise on stress levels (Langdon, 1976.)

Americans are now regularly being exposed to high levels of environmental noise. This increase is believed to have had a negative impact on work performance, health, ability to learn and read etc. Increase in stress-related health problems are also attributed to high level of noise. Public policy in connection with noise control has failed to have any considerable positive impact on...

The research done in the area is not being properly used to identify the various possible health effects and stress-related conditions caused by prolonged exposure to excessive noise. It is important to understand that noise when it crosses a limit, which varies from person to person, adds to psychological stress. A person living in urban areas is therefore much more at risk of becoming a victim of noise-related stress than someone in the countryside. Government needs to make important concerted effort to control environmental noise as it can seriously damage Americans' psychological and physical health.
References

Fields, J.M. (1990). A quantitative summary of non-acoustical variables effects on reactions to environmental noise. In I. Busch-Vishniac (Ed.), 1990 Conference on Noise Control Engineering: Reducing the annoyance of noise. Austin: University of Texas.

Jeff Meer. (1986). Make a wholesome noise - new study indicates that noise is not always a distraction. Psychology Today, May.

Langdon, E.J. (1976). "Noise nuisance caused by road traffic in residential areas: Part III." Journal of Sound and Vibration, 49, 241-256.

Lee, D. (1994, July/August). "Breaking the sound barrier." National Parks, 68, 25-29.

Nanette Blanchard (1998). The quietest war: for many Americans, noise pollution is no joke. The Environmental Magazine: March-April

Schulte, W., & Otten, H. (1993). Results of a low-altitude flight noise study in Germany: Long-term extraaural effects. In H. Ising & B. Kruppa (Eds.), Larm und Krankheit: Noise and disease (pp. 332338). Stuttgart, Germany: Gustav Fischer Verlag.

Stephens, S.D.G. (1970). "Personality and the slope of the loudness function." Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 22, 9-13.

SUESS, M.J. (1973) the long-term planning of a noise control program. in: Ward, W.D., ed. Proceedings of the International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem. EPA 550/9/73-008, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC

Suter, a.H. (1991 a). Noise and its effects. Washington, DC: Administrative Conference of the United States.

Thomas, J.R., & Jones, D.M. (1982). "Individual differences in noise annoyance and the uncomfortable loudness level." Journal of Sound and Vibration, 82, 289-304.

Watson, D., & Clark, L.A. (1984). "Negative affectivity: The disposition to experience aversive emotional states." Psychological Bulletin, 96, 465-490.

Wesler, J.E. (1989). Effects of the Expanded East Coast Air Traffic Plan on noise over northern New Jersey (Wyle Research Report WR 89-2). Arlington, VA:…

Sources used in this document:
References

Fields, J.M. (1990). A quantitative summary of non-acoustical variables effects on reactions to environmental noise. In I. Busch-Vishniac (Ed.), 1990 Conference on Noise Control Engineering: Reducing the annoyance of noise. Austin: University of Texas.

Jeff Meer. (1986). Make a wholesome noise - new study indicates that noise is not always a distraction. Psychology Today, May.

Langdon, E.J. (1976). "Noise nuisance caused by road traffic in residential areas: Part III." Journal of Sound and Vibration, 49, 241-256.

Lee, D. (1994, July/August). "Breaking the sound barrier." National Parks, 68, 25-29.
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