Frequency weighting to evaluate the feeling of pressure and/or vibration caused by low-frequency noise: Re-analysis of an existing study

• Published in: Journal of low frequency noise, vibration, and active control Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 3 - 11
• Main Authors: Tagusari, Junta, Sato, Sho, Matsui, Toshihito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.03.2022; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Frequency analysis; LF noise; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Noise; Perception; Perceptions; Regression analysis; Sound pressure; Vibration analysis; Weighting; frequency weighting; Low-frequency noise; resonance; feeling bothered; feeling of pressure and/or vibration; vestibular system
• ISSN: 1461-3484; 2048-4046
• DOI: 10.1177/14613484211042156

Low-frequency noise may create specific perceptions, which might cause various health effects. The present study aimed to identify exposure–response relationships between low-frequency noise and perceptions by re-analysing an experimental study. We investigated the predominant perceptions of ‘feeling bothered’ and ‘feeling of pressure and/or vibration’ using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A significant interaction between 1/3 octave-band sound pressure level and frequency was indicated for ‘feeling bothered’ but not ‘feeling of pressure and/or vibration’, suggesting that the ‘feeling of pressure and/or vibration’ does not originate in cochlear. A mathematical model indicating resonance at approximately 50 Hz fitted the results well. A frequency weighting derived from the mathematical model could be applied to broad-band low-frequency noise to evaluate the perception and health effects. However, further investigations on the weighting for the perception are necessary because the results were obtained only from the existing study.