The importance of attentive listening

Abstract

We all live in a world full of sounds. During my life, I have been aware of the sounds around me. Until I was about 23 years old, I experienced many noise environments and tried to remember how they sounded, but did not have any knowledge of acoustics. My knowledge of acoustics began when I took Bob Newman’s architectural acoustics courses at MIT. It continued with work at BBN. Bob used examples of sounds, to illustrate his teaching. Bob stressed the importance of listening carefully and remember what you heard. If you need to analyze noise environments, it vitally important to listen very carefully and to remember the sounds. Always participate in noise measurements if you are responsible for reporting the noise and recommending noise reduction treatments. During the 55 years since I began studying acoustics, there have been many changes in the issues we face. Focusing on the importance of careful listening, this paper will consider major sources of changes in the outdoor noise environment, i.e., increased numbers and kinds of sources; increased levels of activity; and increased desire for quiet.