Many Brabanders suffer from an often inexplicable humming sound. The Low Frequent Noise Foundation (LFg) collects these complaints. Last year, 127 reports came from Brabant, which puts our province in the top three of highest scoring provinces. Only North and South Holland received more complaints. “It is a serious subject. Not only in the Netherlands, but all over the world,” says Marcus Erasmus of the LowFrequent Sound Foundation.
Many Brabant residents also reported to Omroep Brabant last week. They are bothered by an inexplicable tone or hum. The reports poured in after Louise (55) from Eindhoven shared her experiences. She hears an inexplicable noise at home day and night. “It seems like there is a low, booming sound in the distance. It ebbs away a bit and then it comes back.” And now it turns out that she is not the only one who suffers from such an inexplicable sound.
Most people can hear sounds with a frequency between 20 and 20,000 Hz. Low-frequency sound concerns sound with a frequency between 20 and 125 Hz. These low humming tones can travel very long distances.
According to the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM), some people are more affected by low-frequency noise. According to the website, it may well be that only one family member or one resident in the street is affected by it. According to the RIVM, people who suffer from it can have sharp hearing and hear more than the people around them.
“We can’t tell what it is.”
“In recent years you have seen two types of reports coming to us,” says Erasmus. “You have low-frequency noise that you can measure with measuring equipment. Like a windmill five kilometers away. Or a cooling system from the supermarket. On the other hand, we hear more and more stories that people think they perceive low frequency, but it cannot be measured. We can’t tell what it is. We can only say that more and more people are suffering from this.”
If things get too bad, you can request an investigation from the municipality. Erasmus: “Low-frequency noise that comes from somewhere can be picked up with measuring equipment. Then you can find out. But we see an increase in people who have measurements taken without results and still continue to hear an annoying humming noise.”
“You need to relax a little.”
Isn’t this about tinnitus, ringing in the ears? A recognizable question for the LowFrequent Sound Foundation. “Medical specialists then say it is tinnitus. But tinnitus is perceived by humans as a higher frequency. A high-pitched beep,” said Erasmus.
The foundation receives 600 to 800 reports per year. According to LFg, some GGD regions take the complaints very seriously. But there are also GGDs who hint that it may be all in our heads. That complainers should ‘relax’ a little more.
The foundation is not satisfied with such killers. Erasmus: “We advocate that scientific research be done. What are the sources? Where does it come from? Why does one suffer more from it than the other? There are people who are completely destroyed by it.”
This is why hums are so hard to find:
Waiting for privacy settings…