Most people know that aging and extremely loud music can damage their hearing, but fewer think about the impact of everyday noise pollution.
Noise pollution is any unwanted sound in your environment that can harm hearing. Let’s take a look at how loud noise can damage your hearing and a few common causes of daily noise pollution.
How Does Noise Damage Hearing?
Your inner ear has a small, fluid-filled, snail-shaped organ called a cochlea. There are thousands of microscopic hairs lining the cochlea. As sound waves enter the inner ear, they cause the fluid to move, stimulating the hair cells. When stimulated, the hair cells generate electrical impulses that travel along the auditory nerve to the brain. Your brain turns these signals into identifiable sounds like speech or birds tweeting in Lake Arbor Park.
When you hear a low-volume noise, the hair cells do their job without issue. However, the hair cells work in overdrive to deliver sound as the volume creeps up. The louder the sound, the harder they work. If the noise reaches 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA), the hair cells will bend or die, leading to hearing loss.
What Are Some Common Sources of Noise Pollution?
Noise pollution sources will differ based on where you live and work, but common examples of damaging noises include:
- Loud movies
- Concerts
- Motorcycles
- Traffic
- Ambulance, police or fire sirens
- Construction sites
- Fireworks
While these are some of the loudest examples, it’s important to recognize that noise is also compounding. For example, running a blender for your morning smoothie is unlikely to damage your hearing. However, running a blender while grinding coffee and listening to music can create a harmful symphony.
How Can I Protect Against Noise Pollution?
You can’t exactly tell the whole world to quiet down, but you can protect yourself from a lot of noise exposure with the following tips:
- Wear earplugs at concerts, action movies and fireworks shows
- Wear earmuffs at construction sites
- Turn your music down when stuck in traffic
- Wear auto-safe earplugs (that dampen noise levels while still allowing you to hear safety information) when riding a motorcycle
- Only use one noise-generating appliance at a time
By following these tips and scheduling regular hearing tests, you can protect your hearing in the long run. Contact Advantage ENT & Audiology to schedule your hearing appointment today.