Effects of noise sensitivity on sound perception, symptoms and cognition

Sammanfattning: Noise sensitivity is a condition characterised by an excessive reaction to harmless levels of sound that would not normally affect typically functioning people. Previous research have found that reactions such as the reduction of attention and concentration as well as the presence of medically unexplained common symptoms such as headaches and fatigue appear in sufferers. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether such a class of sound sensitive individuals are affected by exposure to a potentially unpleasant sound source more than a relatively low sound sensitive group of individuals. Forty adults between 18-54 years of age were exposed to a white noise sound stimulus within a soundproof exposure chamber for 45 minutes. The sound pressure level of the sound varied over the course of the exposure session. The dependent variables of the study were perceived intensity, unpleasantness and effect on concentration, symptoms and cognitive strain. After the exposure session, participants were asked to fill in an online survey that included a 21 item Noise Sensitivity Scale. This was used to group the participants accordingly to a low or high NSS group. The high NSS group compared to the low NSS group had higher ratings for unpleasantness and negative effects on concentration after time point four, at which point the noise stimulus had been introduced. No differences were observed in ratings of Intensity of the noise stimulus between groups. The high NSS group also demonstrated higher ratings for symptoms after the noise stimulus had been introduced. In addition they also demonstrated a lower level of improvement for the cognitive task in comparison to the low NSS group. The findings from this study imply that individuals suffering from hyperacusis can be negatively affected by the presence of annoying sound stimuli. Hyperacusis can mean that sounds can become unpleasant to sufferers as well as potentially affecting their ability to concentrate.