Noise combines measurable harm with subjective disturbance

Evidence

For another form of hostile sound exists, the volume of which is not necessarily high, but that is pervasive as household dust. It is the noise of useless information. — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 439 (#expands, via linked claim)

Of the four general definitions, probably the most satisfactory is still “unwanted sound.” This makes noise a subjective term. One man’s music may be another man’s noise. — Schafer, Murray R, The Soundscape- Our Sonic Environment…, 614 (#qualifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Noise research shifted from hearing-loss risk to subjective annoyance; Annoyance and disturbance are distinct components of perceived noise quality; Noise damage accumulates as an integrated dose where loudness trades against duration (+10 more)

Broader Connections

• Noise damage accumulates as an integrated dose where loudness trades against duration #expands (0.85)
• Noise is fundamentally subjective rather than an objective property of sound #qualifies (0.82) — Schafer, Murray R, The Soundscape- Our Sonic Environment…, 614
• Pervasive low-volume informational chatter constitutes a hostile noise distinct from loud sound #expands (0.82) — George Michelsen Foy, Zero Decibels, 439
• Speech-like noise fools the brain and harms intelligibility more than its level suggests #expands (0.80) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2481
• Noise perceived as a danger signal triggers fight-or-flight responses even during sleep #expands (0.80) — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 1052
• Identifying a sound source can shift annoyance independent of loudness #expands (0.78) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1866
• Loss of quiet erodes the very awareness needed to notice its loss #expands (0.75) — Gordon Hempton, John Grossmann, One Square Inch of Silence- One Man’s…, 896
• Loudness judgments at a fixed level vary probabilistically across categories #expands (0.72) — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 2512