One of the most serious problems in our modern world is noise pollution, which the WHO calls the “scourge of our time.” In addition to numerous health effects, persistent noise can also lead to hearing loss.
What is noise?
Sound is a mechanical wave that propagates through a flexible medium such as air. The human ear detects the pressure fluctuations caused by sound waves. We refer to those unpleasant and harmful sounds as noise that have a disruptive effect on our daily life, work, and rest. Constant industrial or environmental noise can also cause hearing damage, depending on their intensity and sound pressure level.
Our auditory organ
Our auditory organ, which is also part of our balance organ, consists of the outer ear, containing the eardrum, which receives incoming sounds, the middle ear, which amplifies these sounds several times, and the inner ear, which converts the sounds into electrical impulses and transmits them to the auditory nerves and then to the brain. The human ear can detect sounds between 20 and 20,000 Hertz. (Human speech is about 60 decibels.) Sounds of 90 to 100 decibels already have a negative effect on our ears, and 130 to 140 decibels can already cause earaches, headaches, or hearing loss. The effects of noise on the body also depend on the individual’s age, health, and mental state, as well as living environment and social situation. Exposure to noise poses serious health risks from a young age. Our ears cannot exclude any sound, so they are continuously exposed to sound effects.
Each year, more and more people suffer from noise-induced hearing loss
Studies show that the number of people whose hearing is impaired by noise is constantly increasing. The noises from cars, work machinery, trains, and the barking of dogs infiltrating our homes day and night are extremely unpleasant. For those living in shared apartments, household noises, loud music, and quarrels from neighboring apartments are a great inconvenience. In workplaces, in open-plan offices, the noise from machines, computers, phones, technical devices, and the chatter of colleagues prevail as a constant sound load around us. Constant noises harm our ability to concentrate and remember, resulting in a significant decline in our work performance. Harmful sounds can cause headaches, nervousness, tension, or even depression. Due to increasing health problems, we are compelled to take sick leave more often, which can also be detrimental to work.
Symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss
One of the most common symptoms is tinnitus and balance disorders of the organs. Initially, the perception of high-pitched tones generally deteriorates. Sounds with a frequency of 4000 Hertz can cause nerve hearing loss, known as the noise notch. The loss of hearing of high tones is gradually followed by impairment of low tones, meaning hearing can become affected. Depending on the quantity and duration of the noise load, even the entire sound range may not be detected.
How can we protect ourselves from noise?
If we can, choose a quieter and more peaceful living environment. In the case of newly constructed properties, it is advisable to consider the acoustic characteristics of building materials during planning. Old or used buildings almost always require renewed sound insulation. Flat, hard, and large surfaces—due to their structure—are not capable of absorbing sounds; they reflect them, creating very unpleasant echoes, which interfere with room acoustics and speech intelligibility. For this reason, we often raise our voices and are forced to communicate loudly, which is also harmful to our auditory organs. Today, we have a wide variety of excellent acoustic elements for noise reduction. It is recommended to place soundproofing panels on walls and ceilings, acoustic curtains in front of glass surfaces, and acoustic carpets on floors. We can similarly protect ourselves from noise at the workplace. We can expect a dramatic improvement in our quality of life, mood, and work performance if we pay attention to noise reduction.
