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Is there any soundproofing that works for a bedroom please? (low-frequency bass sounds)

NAS83894

Hi

I am extremely noise sensitive and am plagued by the low frequency rhythm of bass music from somewhere in my neighbourhood.  Since I am not sure where it comes from and it is too quiet to be considered a nuisance by the council or any 'normal' person, I am stuck with insomnia and nightly distress. Ear plugs amplify the sound and the white noise headbands give me a headache that is as bad or worse than the sleeplessness. I have triple glazing and 2 layers of thick curtains, my bed is on anti-vibration plates and not touching any wall. I don't know what more I can realistically do or afford. Please can anyone offer any advice on soundproofing that actually works for low-frequency vibration? Or other ways to cope without getting more and more desperate?  Do wall or ceiling panels work? Do any medications or treatments help?  I am worried about getting more and more crazy and I don't want to cause any animosity with neighbours as it is not their fault.  Thank you. K x

Parents

  • Welcome back, K! Wave

    I'm so sorry that you're still struggling with this - I remember your previous thread from several months ago.

    Unfortunately, low-frequency noise is one of the hardest types to block.

    NAS83894 said:
    I am extremely noise sensitive

    In my reply in that earlier thread, I suggested talking to your GP, who might be able to refer you for support. Have you felt able to explore that yet? If not, I'd particularly suggest asking them what support your local audiology service can offer for hyperacusis / sound sensitivity (which is, of course, often associated with autism).

    I also struggle daily with hyperacusis, along with tinnitus. I recently began receiving support from my local audiology team, who are being very helpful. As these pages explain, for example, there are some NHS-provided treatments that might be helpful for you (eg therapies, earpieces):

    NHS - Noise sensitivity (hyperacusis) - a brief overview

    NHS Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust - Adult Hyperacusis and Sound Sensitivity - more detailed explanation of potential types of support

    NAS - Autism and sensory processing > Professional support for sensory differences

    You could also try asking your question on a specialist forum covering acoustics, soundproofing, or sound-engineering. At the very least, they might be able to help you avoid wasting money on blocking techniques that wouldn't work for that type of noise.

    From my own reading, there are some insulating panels that might prevent low-frequency sounds from bouncing around within a room, but they might need to be very thick (eg 16") and still wouldn't necessarily be able to stop it entering from outside. 

    You could perhaps also try moving your bed to a different room or position, as those kinds of low-frequency sounds can be louder in some parts of a room than others, due to "standing waves".

  • in reply to Bunny

    Thank you so much, Bunny ( ), yes, I remember how kind you were in your original responses and am pleased to find you are still as caring now. I have not asked the GP for support, but I did try a guided self-help book to desensitise myself, but found I just ended up more distressed and frustrated. I am using a white noise sleep band sometimes but that seems to give me worse tinnitus and headaches.  I am really just so tired of being tired and so frustrated with myself for lacking any resilience.  I will definitely take a look at the websites you have suggested and see if there is something that could be helpful. I agree that soundproofing can be expensive and unhelpful, but I just want to have somewhere I can hide away from all the noise and feel safe and able to relax.  Thank you once again for your kind support.

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  • in reply to Bunny

    Thank you so much, Bunny ( ), yes, I remember how kind you were in your original responses and am pleased to find you are still as caring now. I have not asked the GP for support, but I did try a guided self-help book to desensitise myself, but found I just ended up more distressed and frustrated. I am using a white noise sleep band sometimes but that seems to give me worse tinnitus and headaches.  I am really just so tired of being tired and so frustrated with myself for lacking any resilience.  I will definitely take a look at the websites you have suggested and see if there is something that could be helpful. I agree that soundproofing can be expensive and unhelpful, but I just want to have somewhere I can hide away from all the noise and feel safe and able to relax.  Thank you once again for your kind support.

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