Please be quiet.

We live in a noisy world.

The human cochlea detects sounds as energy vibrations. 

Some sounds are universally reviled, like nails on a chalkboard. 

The scraping of train wheels. 

A dentist's drill. Styrofoam. 

We may experience intense anger and disgust when confronted with these sounds. 

Some sounds, like a crackling fire or rain falling softly on the roof while you're in bed, 

or the first steps on a fresh layer of snow, can be soothing.

The sounds are fresh. We feel we are the first. 

We feel safe. 

The first time she heard the child crying, her eyes filled with tears. It sounded like life.

We cringe when we hear the children laughing. 

For some, loud sounds hurt.