We’re all aware that we live in a loud world, and it’s only getting louder. Lots of jobs are loud, from construction to farming to factory work. Recreational noises can be loud too, like your favorite bar on Friday night, or the sports game or rock concert you attended last weekend. What you might not realize though, is that these aren’t the only hazards to your hearing health. In fact, noise in your own neighborhood could be affecting both you and your family’s hearing.
Sounds All Around
Sounds permeate our entire lives. The finely-tuned structures of your ear are able to pick up on everything, from the birds out the window and the cars rushing by, to the clattering of coffee cups in the kitchen, or even the clicking computer keys at your desk. These sounds turn into noise when many sounds all merge together, and we call it noise pollution when there are so many sounds that the noise never stops, and is damaging to your hearing.
Noise Pollution In Your Neighborhood
Passing by a busy school or noisy construction site on your way to work might not be too bothersome. You’re in and out of the noise quite quickly, and it’s not likely to damage your hearing or turn into a cause for concern. However, if this noise is in your neighborhood and you’re around it all the time, not only does it disrupt the peace and quiet of your home, it could soon become a real health concern.
One of the most common causes of neighborhood noise pollution is traffic noise. If your neighborhood is near a highway, or has a few busy streets, you’ll likely experience a lot of noise pollution from normal traffic, loud vehicles like motorbikes, and honking that will last all day and sometimes even all night. Living next door to the local police or fire station might seem like the best place to be, but while your home might be the safest on the block, your ears will be suffering. Even living close to dogs can damage your hearing health, especially if they bark frequently, and have high-pitched barks.
Neighborhood noise pollution can also come from home equipment such as power tools, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, or even vacuum cleaners.
The Effects Of Noise Pollution
If you’re exposed to constant noise pollution, you’ll soon see the negative impact it has on your health. You’re more likely to experience insomnia, heart issues, and pain in the ears. Noise Pollution can easily lead to noise induced hearing loss, where being exposed to loud noises over long periods of time begins to chip away at your hearing, leaving you straining to hear.
How To Protect Your Hearing
We know you don’t want to live with noise pollution in your home, so here are a few tips to protect you and your family. The first thing you could do is build a fence around your yard. This will help block the sounds, as well as providing privacy. Planting a lot of trees or shrubs will also help deaden the sounds, and keep your yard quiet. Adding a fountain or water feature could be a great addition to the yard, since it will create white noise to block outside sounds, and provide a peaceful atmosphere in your yard and home. Inside the house, keep appliances quiet by padding them with foam, and use carpet in several rooms to absorb sounds.
During the day it can be hard to regulate noise levels. Everyone is out and about, walking their dogs or mowing their lawn or driving home from work. However, if your neighborhood has a lot of noise pollution at night, you might want to talk to your local government. Quiet hours are in effect through the night, so noise pollution should not be permitted during night time hours.
If you are concerned you may be experiencing a noise induced hearing loss, whether from your noisy neighborhood, job, or hobby, don’t settle for a life without the sounds you love. Visit us at Hearing Spa for a hearing assessment, and to discuss your hearing needs. We’ll work with you to find the perfect hearing device, whatever your level of hearing loss, so you can get back to easy conversations, and hearing all the sounds around you.
