Avoiding Noise Pollution for Better Health
As a musician, I often think about how to protect my hearing when playing in rock bands or at loud shows. I make a habit of using earplugs whenever I am at a loud concert. I have "musician earplugs" that are specially made for my ear shape (thank you, Northeast Hearing & Speech!). I don't always carry these around, though, and there are times I've found myself stuffing tissues into my ears because there is so much noise around me! I work with some people who were born Deaf, but going from from full hearing to loss of hearing is a big change to our quality of life. Hearing is part of our ability to communicate and understand the world around us.
There are studies of the negative health outcomes of noise pollution that aren’t just related to hearing loss. Unwanted and disturbing sound can also lead to loss of sleep, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and learning difficulties. Our stress levels increase due to aggravation of noise pollution.
In Maine, people often joke that there are only two seasons: winter, and construction season. We spend a lot of time either driving past or living and working next to noisy work zones. Many people have occupations in industrial areas, work in power plants or with vehicles and equipment that are above the suggested decibel level. OSHA has standards of safety for these settings, but people just using tools for yard maintenance or home heating do not.
Health impacts are based on the volume and length of exposure, as well as distance to the noise. The US CDC says that noises over 70dB over a prolonged period can damage our hearing. A normal conversation is around 60 dB. Traffic going by can be much louder- if you live on a busy street, you may want to use a white noise machine to help you sleep, but try to find one with intermittent masking sounds- an ongoing buzz could interrupt your rest just as much as nighttime traffic.
There are some basic things you can do to avoid these health effects. Turn down the volume of the media you’re listening to. Take breaks from listening to reduce your exposure. Use quieter tools and cars when possible and maintain equipment. When you can’t avoid loud sounds, use earplugs and ear coverings- keep earplugs in your car or workplace so they’re easy to access. Don’t forget to bring them to concerts- and don’t stand close to the speakers.
Noise is different from music, which is often defined as “organized sound”. Whether various sounds are experienced as musical or not is up to the listener. But people who enjoy the sound of a metal band should protect their hearing just as often as people who enjoy the sound of a chainsaw.
Hearing aids should be free to all who need them. Unfortunately, they are not covered by insurance and are prohibitively expensive for many adults who experience hearing loss with age. If you take steps to protect your hearing now, you may avoid frustration down the line.