HATS off for raising noise awareness

19 June 2009

Noise Action Week Raises Awareness

As part of Noise Action Week, East Hampshire District Council's (EHDC) Environmental Health team offered residents the chance to find out if their love of loud music is permanently damaging their ears. For this experiment, which took place at several venues around Petersfield, a Head and Torso Simulator (HATS) - provided by Bruel & Kjaer - was fitted with audio equipment to measure the decibel level of MP3 players and warn if music is being played dangerously loud. Lisa Duffy, EHDC Environmental Protection Officer, said: "It is expected that people will suffer with hearing problems in later life because of the number of people listening to music too loud. People don't realise they are storing up trouble for themselves and how bad hearing impairments, such as tinnitus, can be.” Bruel & Kjaer’s HATS system consists of a dummy with built-in ear and mouth simulators. These provide a realistic replica of an average, adult human head and torso for testing out external acoustic effects from headsets, microphones, headphones, hearing aids, audio conference devices and hearing protectors. The mannequin also has an adjustable neck making it ideal for testing mobile and cordless telephone handsets. Another Noise Action week activity saw a Rushden-based Scout Group celebrate winning a competition, run by Northamptonshire councils, where young people across the county were invited to produce a 30 second jingle, with a noise awareness message. The finalists joined NewMusicNite organiser, Angela Mallory Stark at the Pemberton Centre, to hear their entries played to the audience. Angela then announced the winners, Charlie Barry and Adam Chapman of 8th Rushden Scouts. The prizes included the chance to record their sound bite at a professional studio and a brand new iPod each - supplied by Brüel and Kjaer UK. Charlie’s father, Trevor Barry said: “The boys were surprised and pleased when they heard the news about being in the final. They were over the moon to win the competition and haven’t stopped playing with their iPods since.” The event was organised by East Northamptonshire Council, Northampton Borough Council, Borough of Wellingborough, Kettering Borough Council, Daventry District Council, Corby Council and South Northamptonshire District Council. 

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