Noise Pollution and You

Have you ever heard the seemingly incessant sounds of a child screaming, thumping music from a teenager’s bedroom, someone who was vacuuming an entire house, or never-ending traffic noises? On a typical day, you might hear a lawnmower, barking dogs, loud sirens, or workers at a construction site.  

Harmful Sounds in Your Environment

Noise pollution is dangerous because it’s invisible. Most people don’t have a second thought about it. Without the proper precautions, it can be harmful to your hearing health and - in some cases - unavoidable. 

Define Noise Pollution

Noise pollution occurs when there is excess noise that is so loud that it can damage a person’s ability to hear. As a result, their daily activities can be interrupted, whether at home, school, work, or during their downtime. 

Noise Pollution is a Serious Problem

About 30 million Americans are regularly exposed to dangerous levels of noise. This is an increase of 10 million from the previous few years. There are millions across the globe who are affected by noise pollution.  

Most Common Sources of Noise Pollution

This mainly depends on where you live, what your job is, and what your hobbies are. A construction worker who lives in a bustling city and regularly takes the subway is more likely to hear a lot of noise pollution than a bank teller who lives in a quiet neighborhood and typically drives alone. Generally, these are the leading sources of noise pollution.    

• Construction sites: When you think of noise pollution, you generally think about the loud construction sites that you’ve passed by. Cranes, cement mixers, and jackhammers are constantly making noises.
• Airport traffic: Anyone who lives near an airport will hear planes flying overhead. It’s the same with anyone who lives near train tracks and hears trains going by every day or almost every hour. 
• Industrial machines: Noise from compressors, cranes, furnaces, generators, and industrial sites are harmful to employees in factories and plants.
• Piped-in sounds: Clubs, concerts, house parties, stadiums, and other venues are great for attendees, but not so much for anyone who lives nearby. 
• Traffic noise: There are various modes of transportation, particularly in big cities. People who live by highways are affected by the noise from cars and emergency vehicles. 

How does noise pollution affect your health? 

Do you ever feel annoyed when you hear a car alarm? How about the wailing sound of an emergency siren? It’s normal to hear all of these sounds at once in large cities. It’s stress-inducing, and experiencing recurring stress is not good for your health. The noise can be distracting, harm the health of your hearing, and lead to a poor night’s sleep which affects your ability to function throughout the day. 

Chronic noise in your environment can lead to sleep deprivation, irritation, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), heart disease, harm to your endocrine system, higher risks of diabetes.

The following are related to excessive exposure to noise:

• Aggression and irritability
• Diabetes and heart disease
• Hormonal responses (stress hormones) and their consequences on human
• Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)
• Pain and fatigue
• Poor academic and work performance
• Difficulty with speech   
• Sleep disturbances
• Tinnitus

Noise Pollution Awareness

Noise pollution is just beginning to be made aware of, in addition to how it affects your hearing and overall health. There are some organizations that are working to make the world safer and quieter. Silencity, a New York City-based organization, increases awareness on the dangers of noise pollution and searches for restaurants and public areas where people can have a quiet and safe visit. Pipedown, a UK-based organization, works to eliminate music inside of restaurants and shops. Noise-free America advocates for both political and public awareness on the harmfulness of noise pollution.

Protect Your Hearing from Noise Pollution

Stronger initiatives to decrease noise pollution are needed in every bustling city. Here are some tips to protect your hearing and health against harmful noise pollution. 

• Recognize when your environment is too loud. Noises that reach over 80 to 85 decibels, can lead to nerve damage in your ears. This includes chainsaws, jet engines, lawnmowers, motorcycles, powerboats, and stereo systems. If you need to shout in order for someone nearby to hear you, the noise is too loud. 
• Loud noises aren’t the only sounds that lead to noise pollution. It is the culmination of hearing these sounds on a regular basis and not getting a break from it. Think of how you may be contributing to this problem and what you can do to reduce it. Stop idling your car, use more rugs or get carpeting installed in your home to absorb the noises, if possible, purchase appliances and power tools that are not very loud. Lower the volume on your TV or earbuds.
• If you engage in loud work or recreational activities, wear earplugs or earmuffs to protect your hearing. Hearing protective devices (HPDs) must be labeled by law with a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). The label and rating are based on how it performed under ideal laboratory conditions. That’s important to keep in mind when looking for hearing protection. 

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a free hearing test and consultation. We offer a vast selection of hearing aid brands and styles for a wide range of hearing loss. We offer a variety of hearing aid brands including HANSATON, Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Rexton, Signia,    Starkey, Unitron and Widex. 

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs, and re-fittings. We ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any problems with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.

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