You might be interested in a NY Times blog from yesterday entitled, "Living with a sound you can't turn off" by Jane Brody.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/living-with-a-sound-you-can't-turn-off/?ref=janeebrody
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/living-with-a-sound-you-can't-turn-off/?ref=janeebrody