Comparison between noise annoyance and noise sensitivity

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between noise sensitivity and noise annoyance. As part of a collaboration between the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan and the National Research Council Canada related to the acoustic requirements for dwellings intended for aging in place, a pilot subjective study of noise annoyance was conducted. Sixty participants in the subjective study were asked to also complete a shortened Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale. The results were divided into two groups based on their hyper- or hypo-sensitivity to noise. The results showed that the noise annoyance of impact sound was perceived differently by the hyper-sensitivity group and the hypo-sensitivity group.