Human Dimension of the Soundscape: From Individuals to Society - Soundscape Ecology: Principles, Patterns, Methods and Applications - page 109

Table 5.1 The Weinstein noise sensitivity scale
1. I wouldn't mind living on a noisy street if the apartment I had was nice. AGREE 1 2 3 4 5 6 DISAGREE
2. I am more aware of noise than I used to be. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
3. No one should mind much if someone turns up his stereo full blast once in a while. AGREE 1 2 3 4 5 6 DISAGREE
4. At movies, whispering and crinkling candy wrappers disturb me. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
5. I am easily awakened by noise. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
6. If it's noisy where I'm studying, I try to close the door or window or move someplace else. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
7. I get annoyed when my neighbors are noisy. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
8. I get used to most noises without much difficulty. AGREE 1 2 3 4 5 6 DISAGREE
9. How much would it matter to you if an apartment you were interested in renting was located across from a
fire station. A LOT 6 5 4 3 2 1 NOT MUCH
10. Sometimes noises get on my nerves and get me irritated. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
11. Even music I normally like will bother me if I'm trying to concentrate. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
12. It wouldn't bother me to hear the sounds of everyday living from my neighbors (footsteps, running water, etc). AGREE 1 2 3 4 5 6 DISAGREE
13. When I want to be alone, it disturbs me to hear outside noises. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
14. I'm good at concentrating no matter what is going on around me. AGREE 1 2 3 4 5 6 DISAGREE
15. In a library, I don't mind of people carry on a conversation if they do it quietly. AGREE 1 2 3 4 5 6 DISAGREE
16. There are often times when I want complete silence. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
17. Motorcycles ought to be required to have bigger mufflers. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
18. I find it hard to relax in a place that's noisy. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
19. I get mad at people who make noise that keeps me from falling asleep or getting work done. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
20. I wouldn't mind living in an apartment with thin walls. AGREE 1 2 3 4 5 6 DISAGREE
21. I am sensitive to noise. AGREE 6 5 4 3 2 1 DISAGREE
TOTAL SCORE____________
Source: Reproduced with permission from Weinstein ( 1978 )
the INS explains 10.2 % of variation in noise annoyance (NA) whereas noise
exposure (NE) explains 17.6 %.
Perception and evaluation are two separate processes and NS is part of the first
process. A further hypothesis argues that NS can be the result of greater hearing
acuity (Job 1999 ), but few studies have demonstrated that NS is related to some
physiologically specific performance.
The difficulties in applying psychometric measures directly to NS create a
problem connecting such factors to physical attributes of sounds. Ellermeier
et al. ( 2001 ) have investigated a new approach to “measure” noise sensitivity,
and they concluded that people with a higher NS have no predisposition to perceive
a sound event more intensely nor the capacity to better discriminate, but attitudinal/
evaluative components should be more active than sensory components. From this
study the hypothesis of a higher auditory acuity is refused.
The experience of a noisy neighbor can create the condition for a NS. The effects
disappear when these people are relocated in a quiet environment but their charac-
teristic of NS remain.
Noise sensitivity can be discussed according to two points. For noise-sensitive
people noise becomes an important component of their well-being, because these
people consider noise as threatening element and more out of their control than do
NNS people. NS people react to noise in a negative way and they can adapt to
noises more slowly. Their annoyance threshold to noise is lower despite the level of
noise. These two elements are connected to psychiatric disorder in terms of
potential noise threat and in terms of annoyance susceptibility.
An investigation carried out on 3,445 persons exposed to noise in Amsterdam by
Meijer et al. ( 1985 ) demonstrated that the people with higher sensitivity to noise
belonged to a higher socioeconomic status.
Another psychological reaction to a new stimulus is called orienting response
(OR) or orienting reflex. This reflex is reduced after a stimulus is repeated several
times, and this reaction is called habituation. NS have a harder time with