Community noise problems: Evidence against adaptation

It is commonly believed that people adapt rather easily to noise. This article reviews the available research, finding little evidence that any adaptation occurs in community settings. Much of this research, however, is open to alternative interpretations. The present study, examining reactions to traffic noise from the opening of a major new highway, was designed to remedy many of the problems with previous research. The investigation incorporated both a repeated measures design (the same respondents were interviewed 4 and 16 months after the highway opening) and an independent groups design (separate groups were interviewed either 4 or 16 months after opening). In addition, a pre-opening interview was carried out with the repeated measures panel. There was no evidence of appreciable adaptation in self-reported noise effects, annoyance, or tendency to focus attention on the noise. Instead respondents became more pessimistic about their ability to adapt to noise as time went by.