74-year-old villager seeks solution to noise issue

Sandy Bay resident Vibert Nanton may possibly be suffering from a medical condition that causes him to be at odds with his neighbours.{{more}}

The 74 -year-old man had on previous occasions visited SEARCHLIGHT and complained of excessive noise in his community from a karaoke session not too far from his home.

He says the music from the karaoke session gives him serious headaches and causes him sleepless nights.

“When you hear they got noise there, is real noise there,” Nanton said.

“There is a time when your head need rest, and when that time come that man would have that music down below me dey.

“Many times I appeal to the police, but I never get any satisfaction from the police. Nobody taking me seriously,” he lamented.

On Saturday, January 7, SEARCHILGHT visited the seaside community to speak with residents, and the person who Nanton identified as one of the main culprits in his agony.

SEARCHILGHT caught up with one proprietor of the shop that hosts the karaoke, who claimed that Nanton, a former shop owner himself, was being “unreasonable” and “spiteful”.

The individual, who asked not to be identified, said that as far as she is concerned, the music is played at an acceptable level, and that the entertainment provided by her establishment is needed, and would not be stopped for the sake of one person.

“Is only he alone complaining. He call police and when the police come they see the music is not even loud.”

“He say the music does be on ‘til four o’clock in the morning, but that is not even true. We trying to provide a means of entertainment; if is not for we, the community will be dead.”

“I don’t know what he talking about; is a kind of spiteful thing….”

Other villagers who joined the discussion agreed with the shop owner, claiming that Nanton’s outcries are unfair, since he is the only person in the community who wants the entertainment to cease.

Nanton on the other hand reaffirmed that he is not asking that the music be stopped, but played at a level that would not affect his hearing.

He also rebuffed claims that he was the only complainant, showing SEARCHLIGHT a list with about a dozen names of persons who he claims all share his sentiments.

SEARCHILGHT was unable to contact anyone on the list who Nanton suggested we speak to.

Admitting that he ran a similar establishment that provided music and entertainment, Nanton noted that he had never been reported to the police for loud noise.

“But what I am experiencing is nothing compared to what used to happen when I used to run my shop. This thing is killing me; it is driving me crazy.”

On Tuesday, January 10, SEARCHILGHT contacted a leading local medical consultant, who said he was vaguely aware of Nanton’s plight.

When the situation was explained to the physician, he indicated that the symptoms were similar to that of hyperaccusis.

Apart from the increased sensitivity of sound experienced by Nanton, some symptoms of the ailment include ear pain, annoyance and a general intolerance to sounds that most people don’t notice or consider unpleasant, with the affected person experiencing dizziness, nausea or a loss of balance.

The medical practitioner suggested that Nanton could use ear plugs or any noise reduction apparatus, which may help in alleviating his discomfort.

According to further research, it was suggested that victims of hyperaccusis seek other forms of treatment, which could help in restoring the individual’s tolerance to sound and decrease the symptoms.

Nanton, when contacted by SEARCHILGHT, agreed to try using ear muffs, as the weekend, which would herald the return of the Saturday festivities, approached.

In the meantime, Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, who was contacted by SEARCHILGHT, indicated that he was doing all he can to strike a balance in the community, by having the speakers relocated to areas where they may have a less damaging effect on Nanton, while continuing to provide entertainment to the rest of the community.