Empower Sound Awareness for a Better Tomorrow
Sound for Life is dedicated to educating communities about the dangers of excessive sound.
Together, we can support affected individuals and promote responsible sound practices.
Sound for Life's Intent
Sound for Life is a non-profit charitable independent organisation that seeks to spread awareness about the dangers of overexposure to excessive sound and to support those that are affected by it.
We encourage the responsible use of amplified sound devices and considering the well-being of those around us, especially neighbors facing anti-social noise issues.
We are committed to implementing hearing protection in media such as video games through AI guardian systems, aiming to help prevent tinnitus and other hearing-related issues.
Join Us in Making a Difference
In everyday life we can experience a vast array of sounds, from transport and industry to various forms of entertainment.
We are rarely far from some form of human created noise that can detract from the peace and tranquility of nature.
Sound for Life kindly reminds people to be considerate of others when generating noise, as well as being very careful of any impact it can have on their own health.
A Message From Our Founder
My name is Matthew Shepherd, I founded Sound for Life after experiencing some sound related health issues. I'd been fortunate to have good hearing for most of my life, even with having attended some loud music venues and festivals when I was younger.
I'd been working from home running my own small IT business for many years, when unfortunately around 2022-2024 I experienced a succession of noisy neighbour issues that severely hindered my ability to work, or even to have any peace in my own home.
During the day we endured the noise of an illegal scrap yard operating just outside our flats, then from early evening onwards my new downstairs neighbours would party, argue, scream and fight at all hours of the night, with the police attending on many occasions. Despite providing all kinds of video evidence, any eviction process is a long and hard struggle for those afflicted by inconsiderate neighbours.
We all deserve peace and quiet in our homes, let's be good to our neighbours.
I had to continue working to maintain my business. The main solution at the time was to block out the noise with headphones playing media, any attempt at reasoning with these neighbours was fruitless. As can be the case with many other inconsiderate neighbours, they were also involved in committing other crimes.
I would constantly have to increase headphone volume to a higher level just to block out any unwanted sounds that would often go on all night. After one particularly noisy night where I had to use headphones constantly, I awoke the next day to hear a ringing in both of my ears which I quickly established to be tinnitus, a devastating and debilitating condition. Having to use media played loudly through headphones to block out my anti-social neighbours had permanently damaged my hearing.
Two months later the noisy neighbours were finally evicted, but in many ways it was too late for me. My tinnitus persisted and has done so to this day. It was very difficult to deal with at first, making me afraid to be alone, whereas before I'd been very independent.
Luckily I've been able to habituate to it, but it's been a tough road that had me questioning my ability to carry on. I founded Sound for Life to try to prevent this from happening to anyone else via spreading awareness and reaching out to people that can help make a positive change for the better.
1:
Please Protect Your Hearing
2:
Consider Others If You Make Noise
3:
Work Together to Live in Peace
Our Key Initiatives
We hope to work with partners in the media and technology industries to help us achieve these goals together.
Awareness Campaigns
To help educate the public about the risks of amplified sound or other excessive sounds in harming your local community, or even your own health via overexposure to loud noise.
To encourage people to be careful when using headphones at loud volumes for long periods of time.
We encourage kindness and the considerate use of noise emitting devices when in public places.
Community Support
To help provide resources and support for those affected by unwanted sound exposure, or those that are suffering from any kind of hearing or noise anxiety related issues.
To encourage communities to support and care for one another in regards to making noise. You never know what your neighbour could be suffering at any time, the loss of a job or even a loved one. Everyone deserves peace and quiet in their own homes.
Sound Responsibility
To help promote the responsible implementation of sound protection in media products and devices.
From providing more volume options by sound type, to providing AI guardian systems that can monitor and advise when a person is being exposed to potentially harmful levels of noise, or adapts to a preferred level for someone suffering any type of hearing disorder, such as tinnitus.
Get in touch
Telephone: To be confirmed
E-mail: Matthew.Shepherd@soundforlife.org.uk
Address: Sound For Life, 5 Brayford Square, London
E1 0SG, United Kingdom