Less Noise is Good for Hearing and Health

Hearing and wellness at risk

Besides causing permanent hearing loss, loud sound has harmful effects on the body as a whole. Unrelenting noise that we may accept as the “sounds of life around us” can impact health and wellness in most negative ways. 

So, what are some of the problems that sound can cause?

    · Especially at high volume, it damages hearing permanently, which lowers quality of life in many ways

• Continuous noise, even at lower levels, gets under people’s skin. It can cause stress and anxiety, disrupts sleep, raises blood  pressure and can lead to heart  disease
• Loud sound is distracting and tiring, which is a set-up for mistakes and accidents at home and at work 
• It lowers focus and shortens attention spans, which leads to hurried and even bad decisions both on and off the job 

Control the noise in your own life

Government is slow to act on environmental noise restrictions, which do not figure on the top of priority lists. While it may be impossible to change living locations, people do have influence over how loud their environments can be. 

Some noise-control strategies may include: 

• When living in a continuously noisy place, short of moving, find out if sound abatement programs might pay for insulating the house against noise. People who live close to airports or  factories have been known to benefit from such help. 
• Reduce the volume on stereo and entertainment systems in homes and cars. Calm the woofers!
• Dampen the din. Put the mufflers back on motorcycles, mowers and snow blowers
• Maintain equipment. A few well-placed drops of oil might just put an end to ear-numbing, nerve-wrecking squeaks
• Buy  sound insulated, quieter tools for projects in the garage or shed. However, “sound abated” does not necessarily mean ear-safe! Hearing protection may still be needed. So, know  the decibel output of the tools. 85 decibels and more are in the danger zone.
• Use hearing protection when operating  equipment, such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers or snow plows. Learn how to apply earplugs and earmuffs correctly and don’t leave home without them. Remember  that noise is everywhere these days. 

· Escape into your own peaceful world. I love my sound-reducing headphones. I listen to some soft, relaxing music – at low sound levels! – and suddenly life is a lot better. 

Less noise is better

Escape sound pollution however and whenever possible. Create your own island of relative peace and make time for yourself. Don’t let noise damage hearing and erode quality of life and health in so many different ways. In the end, less noise is better—for ears, body and soul!