Issues of the current age? There are many, yet even trivial things can increase one’s irascibility, and it appears this can be extended to background noise (as a form of misophonia).
A new survey reveals the impact that noise has on us, with almost nine in ten (87 percent) people admitting that certain sounds are irritating. The survey has taken a sample of the UK population.
As a general finding, nearly half (48 percent) of those polled said that parts of modern life simply feel too loud and overwhelming.
With the most annoying noise, hammering and banging top the list, with 46 percent of the those polled citing it as their top irritation, closely followed by the yap of a small dog (46 percent), and the sound of drilling coming from next door (45 percent).
Other irritating noises testing our tolerance include noisy chewing (42 percent), snoring partners (30 percent), revving engines (19 percent), slurping tea or coffee (19 percent), car horns (17 percent), and high-pitched children’s toys (15 percent).
The research comes from the company Hive (a subsidiary of British Gas), found that building and renovation noises feature heavily in the list, and with home renovation season in full swing, the screech of an angle grinder (29 percent), roadworks outside (22 percent), dripping taps (19 percent), and squeaky hinges (18 percent) are pushing stress levels even higher.
The complete list of the 25 most annoying noises is:
1. Hammering or banging from neighbours – 46%
2. The constant yap of a small dog – 46%
3. The sound of drilling coming from another property – 45%
4. Someone chewing loudly – 42%
5. A fly buzzing around the room – 38%
6. A car alarm going off in the middle of the night – 37%
7. Someone playing music/videos out loud on their phones – 31%
8. Your partner snoring – 30%
9. The screech of an angle grinder – 29%
10. Someone talking a phone in public on speakerphone – 26%
11. People shouting in the street – 23%
12. A knife or fork scraping a plate – 22%
13. A neighbour playing music loudly – 22%
14. Roadworks outside your house – 22%
15. Someone slamming a door – 21%
16. Someone breathing loudly – 19%
17. Motorbikes or cars revving their engines – 19%
18. A dripping tap – 19%
19. Someone with a cold constantly sniffing – 19%
20. A person slurping their tea/coffee – 19%
21. A squeaky hinge on a door – 18%
22. The slurping sound from a straw when someone gets to the end of their drink – 18%
23. Car horns – 17%
24. An annoying laugh – 17%
25. Someone sneezing in an exaggerated way – 17%
Commenting on the psychology behind noise sensitivity, Professor. Jamie Ward from the University of Sussex’s School of Psychology says in a statement: “Everyday sounds do more than just annoy us, they can elevate stress levels, interrupt focus, and even interfere with sleep.
“In some cases, they can also strain relationships. However, different types of sounds may annoy us in different ways and some people have greater sound sensitivity than others.”
Ward adds, in contrast: “Sounds also have the power to stir positive emotions. Research shows we are biologically inclined to find natural sounds calming, while slowly building crescendos can trigger an intense positive sensation known as ‘the chills. With the right balance of tempo and tone, sound can be a powerful tool for wellbeing.”
As an example, Ward says: “The slow tempo of Green Noise will promote relaxation. The slowly undulating changes in loudness create elements of mild tension and positive release.”
