Some Observations on the DEFRA Report
by a Hum Sufferer
Although for over 30 years there has been a constant stream of complaints from Hum sufferers form all parts of the UK, the Report only touches on the problem in a superficial manner, it makes no attempt to explain the cause or offer any real solution to those affected.
The Hum description contained in the Report is accurate, but no explanation is offered as to how a noise, apparently on the threshold of hearing, can bring about such effects as nausea, severe headache, heart palpitations, limb pains etc. and although these effects are mentioned, the report gives them little prominence. There was also no mention of the suicides which have been attributed to the Hum.
Several times the Report mentions the age group of people complaining of low frequency noise, and although it should be expected by natural occurrence that hearing sensitivity decreases with age, the opposite was found, and again no explanation was offered for this anomaly. Also mentioned, without explanation, was the fact that two thirds of complainants were women.
No figures were given as to the true number of people affected by the Hum, this figure has to be extrapolated from the response of Hum sufferers to radio, TV and newspaper articles on the subject. From these sources it is well known that the Hum effects many 1000's of people in the UK alone. In contrast to this, the Report mentions ONE person who learnt to live with the Hum and another considered it as a intriguing but harmless curiosity. The Lucky Two.
Another glaring omission was that no mention was made of the considerable variations which occur in the perceived Hum level. These have been reported by Hum sufferers to reach a maximum during the early hours, at weekends and bank holidays, all times when the often quoted industrial and heavy traffic noise is at a minimum.
The final section of the report titled Further Research, begins by admitting to gaps in the knowledge of a problem which occurs on an international scale and states that it is no longer necessary to "make a case" for work on low frequency noise, however, this further research assumes that there is a measurable noise capable of calibrated tape records.
As is well known, for over 30 years hundreds of attempts have be made to record and measure the Hum as a sound and thus far all have failed, it therefor comes as some surprise that the authors of the DEFRA Report are unaware of this fact. It would appear therefore, that for Hum Sufferers there is no foreseeable relief and they can look forward to many years of systematic torture.
The only option left open to Hum Sufferers is to complain and keep complaining, to your local authority and your elected representative in Parliament and the EEC, insist on your right to undisturbed sleep in your own home.