Trial of a UK-wide support network for low frequency noise sufferers

摘要

The paper describes the trial of a national network of centers which was set up with the aim of improving the handling of low frequency noise (LFN) complaints. In the UK, noise complaints are usually dealt with by Environmental Health Officers (EHOs), however, in a proportion of LFN cases, perhaps as high as 70 percent, no source can be found for the complaint and the EHO is unable to resolve the problem (Waddington et al. 2005; Pedersen 2008). Although LFN complainants are often highly distressed (Berglund et al. 1996; Leventhall 2003) there is generally no route for onwards referral in these 'no source found' cases (see Figure 1). The hypothesis underlying the study is that, irrespective of the (unknown) cause of the LFN perception, the perception may be lessened through application of techniques specifically adapted from the field of tinnitus and hyperacusis therapy. This hypothesis is supported by current neuroscience models of hearing which are briefly described in the following section. The aim of the project was to establish, on a trial basis, a national network of treatment centers for sufferers of LFN thereby providing a referral route for EHOs in LFN complaints with no obvious origin.