Top 5 Noise Pollution Injury Prevention Tips

By Dez Duran-Lamanilao

While people usually associate pollution with air, noise pollution or environmental noise, can also cause negative effects on human health; some of them include sleep disorder, mental fatigue, hypertension, stress, and possibly one of the most common consequences: loss of hearing or tinnitus. 

When does noise become a threat to individuals?  

According to Noise Free America founder Ted Reuter, any noise that goes beyond 85 decibels poses a risk of permanent hearing loss. However, researchers have proven that anything at or beyond 65 decibels can trigger hypertension and stress. Furthermore, a 2007 study reveals that city residents suffered from detectable levels of hearing loss, which logically, may be because of the environment they live in.

Image source: Envirocare

Here are some tips to prevent noise pollution injury and avoid the psychological, emotional, physiological, and physical risks posed by such a threat.

1. Wear hearing protection devices such as earmuffs and plugs especially if you are exposed to a work environment where there is a lot of destructive noise or if you are constantly participating in recreational activities that produce a lot of noise such as target shooting, hunting and playing in a band.
2. While it may be an obvious solution, a lot of people take for granted noise pollution simply because they already consider it as a normal occurrence. Try to limit the amount of time you spend at a noise source.
3. Maintain an acceptable level of distance from the noise source whenever possible. For example, do not get too close to the screen while watching TV at home or avoid getting near to where the speakers are when watching a concert.
4. Be informed about which particular sources of noise can cause damage. A train, for example, can cause minimal hearing damage while a gunfire can result to eardrum rupture.
5. Undergo a hearing test if you think you are already suffering from hearing loss. There are a lot of tests that can be used to determine your level of hearing loss.

Environmental noise may not mean anything to most individuals, but it may already be affecting the health of your ears. If you are in the early stages of hearing loss, your audiologist may be able to prevent it from worsening by recommending appropriate hearing loss prevention solutions.