Provides a summary of current research results on the physiological and psychological effects of sound on people

• Covers how the operation of the hearing mechanism affects our reactions to sounds
• Includes research results from studies on noise sources of public concern such as transportation, public utility, and recreational sources, with emphasis on low frequency sound and infrasound
• Covers sounds that affect some but not others, how sounds can be controlled on a practical level, and how and what sounds are regulated
• Includes coverage of both positive and negative effects of sound

James P. Cowan is a board-certified noise control engineer with more than 30 years of experience in noise control, architectural acoustics, and environmental noise issues. He has consulted to public agencies, architects, engineers, industrial personnel, and attorneys in all areas of noise control; hearing damage and protection criteria; and acoustic design of all types of spaces. Mr. Cowan has lectured on acoustical topics to thousands of professionals, delivering live seminars and webinars, and teaching courses for universities, professional societies, and private organizations across the US for more than 25 years. In addition to several book chapters and many published articles, Mr. Cowan is the author of Architectural Acoustics Design Guide, published by McGraw-Hill in 2000, Architectural Acoustics, an interactive educational CD set published by McGraw-Hill in 1999, and Handbook of Environmental Acoustics, a reference book in community noise issues published by Van Nostrand Reinhold (subsequently Wiley) in 1994.