The effect of masking noise on persons suffering from a low frequency sound [bachelor project]

Some people suffer from hearing an often untraceable low-pitched sound. To help them, two types of a low-pitched noisy sound were put on a compact disk (CD). Sufferers could obtain this free CD on request. Over the course of more than 10 years about 200 CDs were sent out. In 2018 a retrospective survey was designed for those who had requested a CD. The main goal of this study was to investigate how the complaints changed over time in relation to the use of the CD. Further questions examined which other measures participants had taken and how they had used the CD in practical terms (type of masking sound, playing time, frequency of use, volume). Results show that 69% of the 103 respondents felt helped by the use of the CD or another (often noisy) masking sound and reported a reduction in the severity of trouble from the disturbing sound they heard. Part of this reduction seems to be the result of ‘learning to live‘ with the sound as those who did not feel helped also reported a (smaller) reduction. On the short term the main part of the reduction is the effect of the masking sound, over a longer period the effect of a masking sound seems to disappear. We conclude that a low-pitched masking sound can help the majority of low frequency sufferers.