Contents
- Requirements/Specifications
- Special Topic – Noise and QOL
- Feature Case = Basalt AKA Rochester (Cough, Hack and Snort)
- Does Coughing have a fast attack rate 1 & 2?
- Chronic Coughing by another Wears me down
- Un-restful Noises – Coughs [Recommended Read]
- Bedroom Sound Studies
- Compare Snort – Hack – Cough
- Does it take a peaceful environment to mentally heal?
- Priority - Sleep Culprit - Unhealthy noises
- Peaceful Sounds
- Theta Waves
- ASMR sounds
- White Noise Generator
- How far would you go to get a good night's sleep?
- Key Event – Environmental Sampling
- MyCorder Features
- How the Decibel Scale Works
- Autism and Tourette’s Syndrome
- Noises & Motions
- Reasonable & Productive Sounds
Special Topic – Noise and QOL
Environmental noise is an unwanted sound that acts as a significant public health threat and directly degrades physical, mental, and social quality of life (QOL).
Key Impacts on Quality of Life
Sleep Disruption:
Nighttime noise exceeding 55 dB triggers awakenings, while lower or intermittent noise degrades deep sleep stages and reduces recovery without fully waking the sleeper.
Cardiovascular & Physiological Stress:
Unconscious and chronic noise exposure activates the body's fight-or-flight response, elevating stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. This contributes to high blood pressure, hypertension, heart disease, and increased risk of stroke.
Mental Health & Cognitive Strain:
Sustained noise fuels irritability, anger, anxiety, and depression. In children, chronic neighborhood or school noise impairs reading comprehension, attention, and academic performance.
Hearing Damage:
Continuous or intermittent loud noise exceeding 85 dB over extended periods causes permanent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus.
Daily Activity Interference:
High levels of traffic, industrial, or aircraft noise disrupt conversations, interfere with media enjoyment, and prevent people from opening windows or relaxing in outdoor spaces.
Practical Mitigation Strategies
At Home:
Install double-glazed windows, use heavy sound-absorbing curtains, and place thick rugs or carpets to dampen indoor echoes.
Personal Protection:
Use noise-canceling headphones, earplugs, or earbuds during noisy commutes, open office environments, or while sleeping.
Environment & Advocacy:
Seek out local green spaces and parks as acoustic refuges, and support community urban planning efforts like noise barriers and traffic reduction.
Destructive Noise Management
Noise pollution is one of the most difficult problems in urban areas and multi-flat houses. Pollution, grime or exposure to the other environmental problems represents the quality of housing environment and has direct impact on human health and living conditions
Note: This Report includes references to legacy documents
Sound Attack Rates
"Sound Attack Rates" can refer to the time it takes for a sound to reach its peak volume (in audio engineering) or, in a different context, the rate of sound attenuation (how quickly sound energy decreases with distance), with higher frequencies attenuating faster than lower ones. It's important to clarify whether you mean the duration of a sound's initial growth in audio processing or the physics of sound wave decay in propagation.
Does Coughing have a fast attack rate 1?
Graphing the sound of a cough involves recording the cough and then visualizing its characteristics over time, typically as a waveform or spectrogram, to reveal features like sound energy, frequency content, and duration. This process, known as audio-analysis, extracts quantifiable parameters such as peak energy and frequency, which can be used for medical diagnosis, such as identifying pneumonia or differentiating between respiratory diseases. Software tools like Audacity or custom MATLAB scripts are used for segmentation, feature extraction, and graphical representation of these cough sounds.
Research
Classification of voluntary cough sound and airflow patterns for detecting abnormal pulmonary function.
Ayman A Abaza, et.al. (2009)
https://coughjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1745-9974-5-8
Does a cough have a fast attack rate 2?
Yes, a cough has a very fast acoustic attack rate. In audio engineering and bioacoustics, the "attack" refers to how quickly a sound rises from silence to its peak amplitude (loudness). Because a cough is an explosive release of built-up air pressure, its initial acoustic onset is nearly instantaneous.
Chronic Coughing by another Wears me down
It can be incredibly draining to live or work around constant coughing. The repetitive sound, the natural instinct to feel concerned, and the disruption to your sleep or concentration can cause genuine caregiver burnout, sensory fatigue, and heightened stress.
Why It Wears You Down
Sensory Overload:
Constant, unpredictable noises like coughing trigger a minor stress response in your brain each time they happen. Over time, this keeps your nervous system in a state of high alert.
Empathy Fatigue:
You naturally want the person to feel better, but watching them struggle without being able to fix it causes emotional exhaustion.
Sleep Deprivation:
If you live with the person, their night coughing likely disrupts your own sleep cycles, lowering your patience and emotional resilience.
How to Protect Your Well-being
Use Noise Management:
Invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones, loop earplugs (which reduce ambient noise while letting you hear conversations), or a white noise machine for your room.
Create Physical Distance:
It is okay to step out of the room or go to a different part of the house when the coughing flares up. You need a dedicated "quiet zone" to reset.
Encourage Medical Evaluation:
If they haven't already, gently urge them to see a doctor to investigate underlying causes like GERD, asthma, medication side effects (like ACE inhibitors), or post-nasal drip. Managing the root cause is the most effective solution.
FYI – II - To help me suggest better ways to cope, could you share a bit more context? Do you live with this person (like a partner or parent) or work near them? Is the coughing disrupting your sleep, your concentration, or causing you health anxiety? Have they seen a doctor or tried any treatments yet?
In House > Noise > Metadata >
Aside - Associated with DORMIR Hub
Key Event - Date of Death
20210627-SU @ 1015 AM Rochester dies at home after being released from the Veteran’s Hospital.
Aside - Housing Advisory Noise Evaluation
A housing advisory noise evaluation, often conducted for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assisted projects, determines if a residential site is exposed to excessive noise from major sources. The evaluation uses noise standards found in HUD's regulations, 24 CFR Part 51, Subpart B, to assess a property and, if necessary, recommend or require noise mitigation measures.
11_DORMIR_17020901_Hub V2023
Un-restful Noises – Coughs [Recommended Read]
Past and Trends in Cough Sound Acquisition, Automatic Detection and Automatic Classification: A Comparative Review
by Antoine Serrurier, Christiane Neuschaefer-Rube and Rainer Röhrig
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/8/2896
Bedroom Sound Studies
Bedroom sound studies reveal that excessive noise negatively impacts sleep quality and can lead to sleep fragmentation, reduced REM sleep, and worse subjective sleep quality. Background noise levels in bedrooms often exceed recommended levels, and noise sources can include traffic, mechanical equipment, and even noise from other residents. Studies also indicate potential links between noise exposure and health issues such as obesity and sleep disparities, though more research is needed. Effective strategies to improve bedroom acoustics include adding soft, sound-absorbing materials and addressing issues with windows and walls.
Inception of a Problem
20170707-F: Basaltic (Rochester) Notion
“If you are not going to rest comfortably, why lay down – making non-productive noises is not comfortable”
Work Done – Wounded Warrior
https://ktork46.blogspot.com/2017/03/wounded-warrior-basalt-presented-by.html
Study of Unhealthy Noises
Studies of unhealthy noise, or noise pollution, link environmental noise to adverse health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, sleep disturbances, mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and hearing loss. Research shows noise can disrupt physiological stress responses by increasing stress hormones and causing inflammation and oxidative stress. Studies also highlight inequalities in noise exposure, with disadvantaged communities often experiencing higher levels and the associated risks.
Tolerable Noise Day versus Night
During the night, lower ambient noise levels and increased human sensitivity make sounds more noticeable and disruptive, so acceptable noise levels are significantly lower than during the day. Regulations and metrics reflect this difference, with noise perceived as louder at night.
Standard day vs. night noise levels
Typical acceptable residential noise levels are 5 to 10 decibels (dBA) lower at night compared to the daytime. This translates to a difference between the sound of quiet conversation and the hum of an air conditioner.
COPD versus Intentional versus Untreated Sleep Apnea
A combination of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is known as "overlap syndrome". This dual condition is particularly dangerous because the negative health effects of the two disorders amplify each other. It is not possible to "intentionally" get sleep apnea, as it is caused by involuntary physical factors and brain signals.
Compare Snort – Hack – Cough
While the terms snort, hack, and cough are often used to describe similar respiratory sounds, they refer to distinct actions involving different parts of the respiratory system. Snorting is a repeated inhalation, hacking is typically a dry, short cough, and a cough is a forceful expulsion of air. The differences are especially important in distinguishing conditions in pets, but also apply to humans.
Some common sounds and their intensity in decibels are as follows:
https://soundear.com/decibel-scale/
- Baby crying: 110 dB
- Balloon popping: 157 dB
- Concerts: 120 dB
- Heavy city traffic: 85 dB
- Jet engine: 120 dB
- Library: 45 dB
- MP3 player at maximum volume: 105 dB
- Near complete silence: 0 dB
- Noisy restaurant: 90 dB
- Normal conversation: 60 dB
- Toilet flushing: 75-85 dB
- Whisper: 15 dB
Does it take a peaceful environment to mentally heal?
Yes, a peaceful environment is highly conducive to mental healing, as it creates a calming, safe, and nurturing space that reduces stress and anxiety while promoting emotional well-being. Factors such as a clean and organized home, access to nature, and supportive social settings can significantly improve mood, focus, and overall recovery. While it's not the only factor, a stable and healthy environment provides a strong foundation for mental health, allowing individuals to more effectively work through challenges.
Via App called Sensors using Smartphone
Apps for using smartphone sensors allow you to collect, visualize, and record real-time data from the various sensors built into your phone. These tools can be used for a variety of educational, professional, and personal purposes, from science experiments to home diagnostics.
20230720-TH: Downloaded Sensor 1.0 to SGA51 Smartphone
20260919-SA: Downloaded Sensor Logger to A51 Smartphone
Noise detector & Decibel meter - Can I use my phone as a dB meter?
Decibel apps are a convenient way to measure volume fairly accurately with your phone. Our favorite decibel apps include: Decibel Pro, Decibel X, NIOSH SLM app (for iPhone), and Sound Meter & Noise Detector (for Android) Apple products allow passive alerts to help prevent exceeding volume limits.
Is 70 dB loud at night?
Yes, 70 dB is quite loud for nighttime, as optimal sleep environments should be 30 dB or less, and prolonged exposure above 50 dB can negatively affect sleep quality and contribute to stress. Noise at 70 dB is comparable to a vacuum cleaner or highway traffic, and it significantly exceeds levels recommended for rest.
The Optimal Decibel Level for Sleep
The optimal noise level for sleep should be 30dB or less. If you require white noise at night, keep it to 50dB or less — much like the noise level of a running shower. The 70-80dB range is where you can begin to damage your sleep cycle. Feb 7, 2025
Capture loudest healthy noise source
For the average person, the loudest sound that is still healthy for hearing is 70 A-weighted decibels (dBA). This is a 24-hour average exposure level recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency to prevent hearing loss over a lifetime.
White noise decibels of a Fan
A fan's white noise can vary, with standard desk fans averaging around 47-50 dB, while powerful box fans can reach 51-65 dB. Specialized "fan" white noise machines can also operate in the 50-70 dB range. For adults, volumes between 50-70 dB are generally considered safe, but for infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping white noise below 50 dB to prevent potential hearing damage.
Aside - Patterns of sounds
Sound patterns are repeating or arranged sequences of sounds, observed in music, language, and physics. In music, patterns form melodies and rhythms, while in language, they are the organized sequences of phonemes that create meaning. Physically, sound patterns are standing waves that form visual geometric shapes when vibrations, like those from a musical note, are transferred to a medium like sand.
Sleep hygiene time
Sleep hygiene isn't a specific time, but rather a set of daily habits and behaviors that promote good sleep, including maintaining a consistent sleep-wake schedule, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and optimizing your sleep environment to be cool, dark, and quiet.
Aside - Falling Asleep - Go to sleep
Go to sleep; also, cease paying attention. For example, As soon as the lights were dimmed he fell asleep, or His lectures are so dull that I fall asleep. The literal usage, which uses the verb fall in the sense of “succumb,” dates from about 1300; the figurative is several centuries newer.
Aside - First 3 > Homestretch 3-5 > Wakeup
Sleep training
While a less cohesive fit, these terms might also be interpreted from the context of infant sleep training, with "Homestretch" referring to the end of a difficult period. First 3: This could mean the first three nights of sleep training, which are often the most difficult. Homestretch 3-5: This could refer to the time between 3 and 5 months old, which some parents consider to be "the home stretch of the worst of it" for newborn sleep challenges. Wakeup: This simply refers to a baby's awakening during the night. The combination might reference waking during the most challenging phase of sleep training.
Priority - Sleep Culprit - Unhealthy noises
Unhealthy noises disrupt sleep architecture by triggering a fight-or-flight response, reducing deep (N3) and REM sleep, and shifting the body into lighter, fragmented stages. Even if a sound does not consciously wake you up, your brain still registers it, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol that raise your resting heart rate and blood pressure.
The Two Categories of Unhealthy Noises
To reclaim your sleep, it is important to identify whether your culprit is an external environmental sound or an internal sleep disorder noise:
1. External Disruptions (Environmental & Mechanical)
Intermittent Noise:
Sudden spikes in sound—such as passing traffic, a barking dog, or a neighbor's late-night plumbing—cause brief, unconscious arousals that destroy sleep quality.
Constant Low-Frequency Hums:
Appliances like older refrigerators, air purifiers, or nearby electronic devices emit a steady vibration that forces the auditory system to remain active all night.
The "Sound Masking" Trap:
While many people turn to continuous white or pink noise machines to block out traffic, recent sleep science warns that continuous broadband noise can actually reduce critical REM sleep.
2. Internal Disruptions (Sleep Disorders)
Snoring:
Caused by partial airway obstruction, it severely fragments the sleep of both the snorer and their partner.
Catathrenia (Nocturnal Groaning):
A rare condition where a person holds their breath and emits a long, eerie groan or hum while exhaling, mostly during REM sleep.
Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS):
A harmless but terrifying sensory misfire where a person perceives an imaginary, massive explosion, gunshot, or thunderclap right at the edge of falling asleep.
Immediate Action Plan to Lower Noise Stress
Prioritize Physical Barriers Over Audio Masking:
Instead of fighting noise with more noise, use high-quality earplugs. Clinical studies show earplugs successfully preserve deep and REM sleep cycles against environmental spikes.
Reposition Your Environment:
Move your bed away from shared walls, windows facing the street, or noisy home appliances. Soft furnishings (rugs, heavy curtains) can also help dampen incoming vibrations.
Audit Your Smart Alerts:
Ensure all non-emergency phone notifications and smart home alerts are completely silenced or automated into a strict nighttime mode.
Noise Frequency and Loudness
Noise frequency (pitch) and loudness are two independent characteristics of sound waves, but human perception of loudness is significantly influenced by frequency. Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz) and determines if a sound is low or high-pitched, while loudness, measured in decibels (dB), is related to the sound's intensity or pressure. The human ear is most sensitive to frequencies between 2,000 and 5,000 Hz, making sounds in this range seem louder at the same decibel level compared to higher or lower frequencies.
https://www.calm.com/blog/sounds-to-help-you-sleep
What is the most peaceful sound?
- Ocean waves. There's something inherently calming about the sound of ocean wave
- Rain and water sounds
- Nature sounds
- Music
- Meditation practices and soundscapes
- Sleep Stories
- Binaural beats
Theta Waves
Theta waves are slow electrical brain oscillations with a frequency of 4 to 8 hertz (Hz) that occur during deep relaxation, light sleep, and meditative states.
What Are Theta Waves?
Frequency:
Measured between 4–8 cycles per second (Hz).
Occurrence:
Most active during the twilight state between wakefulness and sleep (hypnagogic state), light sleep, daydreaming, and deep relaxation.
Origin:
Generated largely in the hippocampus and frontal midline cortex.
Measurement:
Recorded via Electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors placed on the scalp or inside the brain.
Key Benefits and Functions
Memory Formation:
Vital for encoding new information and retrieving stored memories.
Creativity:
Associated with free-associative thinking and sudden mental insights.
Emotional Processing:
Helps the mind release stress and regulate feelings.
Deep Relaxation:
Acts as a bridge between conscious thought and subconscious awareness.
Balance and Health Effects
Too Much Theta:
Can cause brain fog, lack of focus, daydreaming, or sluggishness. It is also linked in some cases to attention difficulties like ADHD.
Too Little Theta:
Can make it hard to relax, meditate, or access deep creative flow.
How to Boost Theta Waves
Meditation:
Regular mindfulness practice increases theta wave power.
Creative Flow:
Activities like painting, writing, or playing music.
Relaxation:
Spending quiet time in nature or practicing slow breathing.
ASMR sounds
ASMR sound is a specific type of quiet, crisp, or soothing audio that triggers a pleasant, static-like tingling sensation in the head, neck, and scalp. ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. People listen to these sounds to relax, lower stress, or fall asleep. Not everyone feels the physical tingle, but many people still enjoy the calming effect.
Common ASMR Sound Triggers
Whispering:
Soft, close-up spoken words or breathing.
Tapping:
Lightly striking fingernails on wood, plastic, or glass.
Scratching:
Gentle fingernail scrapes on hard surfaces or fabric.
Crinkling:
Crumpling plastic wrappers, paper bags, or foil.
Page turning:
Slow and soft rustling of book pages.
Tapping, Scratching and Crinkling drive me nuts.
White Noise Generator
A white noise generator creates a constant, uniform background sound that masks sudden noises and helps you sleep or focus.
How It Works
Fills the sound gap:
It blends all audible frequencies at equal intensity, similar to TV static or rushing air.
Reduces contrast:
It narrows the difference between quiet moments and loud, disruptive sounds like barking dogs, cars, or slamming doors.
Tricks the brain:
Your brain focuses on the steady background hum and stops reacting to sudden, jarring noises in your environment.
Main Benefits
Improves sleep:
It helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer by drowning out nighttime disturbances
Boosts focus:
It creates privacy and blocks out office chatter or hallway noise so you can concentrate.
Soothes tinnitus:
It provides a constant masking sound that helps reduce the perception of ringing in the ears.
Calms babies and pets:
The gentle, rhythmic hum mimics womb sounds or quiet fans, helping infants and anxious animals relax.
Sleep Ability (Sleep Ability) and harmful noises
90 dB As Compared To the 75 dB cutoff
FYI - Actual impact of 90 dB breathing noises that includes coughing are more intense when you are trying to sleep.
Aside - This Noisy Room - What simple trick could help you hear better in a noisy room?
Have you ever had trouble taking in information in a noisy environment? A new study suggests that tapping your fingers in a steady rhythm could help you 'tune in' through the noise. Apr 13, 2025
How far would you go to get a good night sleep?
To achieve a good night's sleep, you might go as far as to create a consistent sleep schedule, establish a relaxing bedtime routine, optimize your sleep environment by making it dark and quiet, avoid stimulants like caffeine and alcohol before bed, and engage in regular daytime exercise. For some, this also includes limiting screen time, practicing stress-management techniques, or even consulting a doctor to address persistent sleep problems.
What impairment do you notice after not getting quality sleep for a term?
After a prolonged period of poor-quality sleep, common impairments include decreased concentration, slower reaction times, mood changes like irritability, and difficulty with decision-making and memory consolidation. Long-term, you also face a significantly increased risk of chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, and a weakened immune system.
Aside - Questioning Existence
Questioning existence is a normal part of the human experience, often manifesting as an existential crisis, which involves anxiety about life's meaning, identity, and purpose. It can be triggered by major life transitions, traumatic events, or even a sudden awareness of consciousness. While it can feel overwhelming, questioning existence isn't inherently negative and can be a catalyst for personal growth, helping you find greater meaning and live more authentically.
Key Event – Environmental Sampling
20180915-SA: Janet Nguyen Surveyor
On this day Janet Nguyen’s (Eventual Orange County Supervisor) representative came to the house and asked some survey questions. He would have done better to leave and environmental sampler for 24 hours.
Environmental sampling breakthrough Technology Needed
Technological breakthroughs in environmental sampling are needed to address the limitations of traditional methods, which are often costly, slow, and labor-intensive. Next-generation technologies are moving toward automated, real-time, and remote monitoring systems that provide more precise and comprehensive data.
Tricorder Idea
The Tricorder is a fictional handheld scanning device from Star Trek that performs various sensing, recording, and data analysis functions. The concept involves a device capable of scanning and diagnosing medical conditions, analyzing environmental compositions, and mapping terrains, with the aim of creating real-world devices with similar capabilities. While a fully functional, universally applicable device does not yet exist, ongoing efforts and innovations, including smartphone apps and DIY projects, are bringing aspects of the Tricorder concept closer to reality.
MyCorder - Capturing the Rent a Shared Room Experience
For many, renting a shared room offers a balance between cost savings and social connection, though the experience often presents unique challenges regarding privacy and boundaries. Effectively capturing this experience involves understanding both the practical aspects and the social dynamics that define co-living. A successful shared-room experience starts with clear expectations and agreements, which help prevent miscommunication and conflict.
Tangent - Environmental Sampling in the bedroom
Environmental sampling in a bedroom measures indoor air quality, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and microbial contaminants to assess health and sleep quality.
Key Parameters to Sample
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs):
Measures chemicals emitted by building materials, furniture, and human occupancy during sleep (such as nearly 100 specific metabolic or off-gassed species).
Particulate Matter PM2.5 and PM₁₀):
Tracks fine dust, skin flakes, and outdoor pollutants entering the room that can disrupt sleep continuity.
Gases (CO₂ and CO):
Evaluates ventilation efficiency; high carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels often accumulate overnight in closed bedrooms without adequate airflow.
Microbial Contaminants:
Assesses mold spores and bacteria in settled dust or reservoir areas like mattresses and carpets.
Physical Factors: Monitors ambient temperature, relative humidity, and noise levels, which directly influence sleep efficiency.
Common Sampling Methods
Active Air Sampling:
Uses specialized pumps or canisters (like evacuated Summa canisters) to draw a measured volume of air through filters or collection media for laboratory chemical analysis. [1]
Passive Sampling:
Utilizes diffusion badges or settling plates to gather gases or falling bio-particulates over an extended duration.
Dust and Surface Sampling:
Collects reservoir dust from mattresses, bedding, or high-touch surfaces to analyze microbial or allergen loads.
Continuous Electronic Monitoring:
Employs low-cost or professional real-time sensors to log temperature, humidity, noise, and PM_2.5 through an overnight sleep cycle.
Why It Matters
According to guidelines from agencies like the US EPA on the Indoor Microbiome, routine microbial testing of residential rooms is generally unnecessary unless investigating a specific health complaint or moisture failure, because a baseline presence of microbes is normal. However, targeted environmental monitoring helps optimize sleep hygiene parameters—such as maintaining temperatures between 17–28 °C, relative humidity at 40–60%, and noise below 35 dB.
Note: HAB_Technological_Needs_18120105_Ideas
Objective Sampling – Environmental Sampling Quality of Life Mode
Objective sampling is a type of environmental sampling that uses a statistically valid random sampling method to draw unbiased conclusions about a population or area. It contrasts with convenience or judgmental sampling, which rely on ease or prior knowledge and may introduce bias. In the context of environmental science, the "Quality of Life Mode" of objective sampling refers to its application in assessing environmental factors that impact public and ecosystem health.
13_Tech_MyCorder_24022002_Notes V2026
https://housingadvisoryboard.blogspot.com/2026/10/reinvent-tricorder-branded-as-mycorder.html
MyCorder Features
MyCorder Modes - Inputs
- Analysis Mode
- Capture Auditory Noises of Sickness
- Capture Features of Peace
- During Sleep Period
- Indicators of Rest
- Light Detection and recording
- Playback & Reporting mode
- Recording Mode
- Rest Mode
- Sound Detection, trigger and recording
- Sound Engineering mode
- Video Capture
MyCorder
Algorithms and Calculations
MyCorder – Outputs
- Peace and Serenity Score
- QOL Life Score
- Roommate Match Score
- Satisfaction Score
- Sound Bites
- Various Graphs
- Video Reels
20180915-SAT - Tricorder Idea (MyCorder) – Janet Nguyen Surveyor [DITTO]
The Decibel Scale
How the Decibel Scale Works
Logarithmic Nature:
Unlike a linear scale (like inches or pounds), every 10 dB increase represents a 10-fold increase in sound energy intensity.
Perceived Loudness:
Because human ears process sound logarithmically, an increase of 10 dB is generally perceived by a listener as roughly twice as loud.
Reference Point:
The scale starts at 0 dB, which marks the threshold of normal human hearing (the softest sound a healthy ear can detect).
Types of Noise
Noises can be categorized by their temporal pattern, such as continuous, intermittent, impulsive, or low-frequency, or by their frequency content, known as "colors" of noise. Examples of the latter include white noise (equal energy across all frequencies), pink noise (more energy in lower frequencies), and brown noise (even more energy in the lowest frequencies).
Sound versus Noise
Sound is any auditory experience created by mechanical vibrations traveling through a medium, while noise is specifically unwanted, disruptive, or unpleasant sound. The key difference is the subjective human perception: one person's music (sound) can be another person's headache (noise). While all noise is a type of sound, not all sounds are considered noise.
Autism and Tourette’s Syndrome
Aside - Noises Autistic People Make (Experience with Doug A. Rochell)
Autistic people often make repetitive noises known as vocal stims to self-soothe, express feelings, or process sensory input.
Common Types of Sounds
These sounds are a form of self-stimulation and can vary from person to person:
Humming or murmuring
Grunting or groaning
Squealing or high-pitched screeching
Clicking the tongue or clearing the throat
Whistling or brief singing
Repeating words, sounds, phrases, or TV lines (called echolalia)
Why These Sounds Happen
Vocal stimming is a natural behavior that serves several purposes:
Calming the brain:
Rhythmic noises help reduce stress or sensory overload.
Expressing emotion:
Sounds often increase when a person feels very excited, happy, or anxious.
Aiding focus:
Making a steady noise helps some individuals block out distracting background sounds or concentrate on a task.
Noises Tourette Syndrome People Make (Experience with William Schrader)
People with Tourette syndrome make sudden, involuntary sounds called vocal tics, which range from simple throat-clearing noises to complex words or phrases. You can read more about these symptoms through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Simple Vocal Tics
Simple vocal tics are basic, meaningless sounds caused by air moving through the nose, mouth, or throat.
- Throat clearing
- Grunting
- Coughing
- Sniffling
- Barking
- Whistling
- Hissing or squeaking
Complex Vocal Tics
Complex vocal tics involve more structured sounds, words, or repeating patterns.
Echolalia:
Repeating the last word or phrase spoken by someone else.
Palilalia:
Repeating one's own words or sounds.
Coprolalia:
Involuntary swearing, slurs, or socially inappropriate words. This affects fewer than 10% of people with Tourette syndrome.
Animal sounds (like barks, meows, or roars)
Random words or phrases out of context
Key Facts about Vocal Tics
People cannot control these sounds when they happen.
Tics often start between the ages of 5 and 10.
Stress, anxiety, or excitement can make the noises happen more often.
Most people see their tics improve or go away by adulthood.
FYI –AI - If you'd like, I can share information on: The difference between motor tics and vocal tics. How doctors diagnose Tourette syndrome. Common treatments and therapies. Let me know what you want to explore next.
