Published
HPNoSS – Hospital Project on Noise, Sound and Sleep
HPNoSS is a research project which seeks to provide a holistic understanding of sound in the hospital environment and the intimate relationship of noise to sleep, rest, treatment and recovery.
Noise in hospitals is a common grievance among patients, families, and staff. In the US, “quietness of hospital environment” is among the lowest scoring items on patient surveys. In the UK, 40% of hospital patients are bothered by noise at night, a consistent finding of the NHS Inpatient Survey.1 Hospital noise is a steadily worsening problem, with levels regularly exceeding international recommendations. Noise levels over 100 dB have been measured in intensive care units, the equivalent of loud music through headphones and the point beyond which damage to hair cells in the ear can occur.