Acoustic consultants are often faced with the dilemma of a noise that when treated to meet code, still disturbs the client. The recent patented “Health condition detection and repair signal processing system” will be discussed to bring a better understanding of this noise sensitivity. This patent embodies the culmination of years of engineering and resolving various disturbing noises. The nuances of these noises when first noticed appeared to have a relationship between specific noise signatures and certain health conditions. A survey administered in the Navy determined that there was a correlation between this sensitivity to sound signatures and health conditions. It was also determined that noise sensitivity responses by means of a survey may not be accurate. A capstone project with Tufts University senior engineering students developed a prototype for a health condition device that correlates bioelectric and vital sign responses to various sound signatures to various health conditions. Testing of the device with Harvard Medical School provided feedback that helped to optimize the efficacy of the testing. Although this device was invented for healthcare applications, the theoretical foundation will be presented to bring attention to the importance of addressing certain sounds in the design of residential, commercial and healthcare facilities.
Schnitta et al. (Fri,) studied this question.