It is too loud.
Rock ‘n’ Roll ain’t noise pollution… We all know lots of other things are. Besides light, noise is one of the most pervasive pollutants on the planet. It is everywhere. And there is some of it you can definitely prevent and avoid, for yourself and others.
Eh?
Noise-induced hearing loss is preventable. It is also permanent. Most people think immediately of large blasting noises, like gunfire, as the kind of thing which can affect your hearing. In fact, the constant din around you damages your hearing.
How loud is it?
Like what?
Sound is measured in decibels. Once you get to 85dB, you are damaging your hearing. The recommendation is for less than eight hours of noise per day, and the majority of which should be under 70dB.
Some everyday sounds are less than 90dB:
- Whisper…20dB
- Rural night sounds…35
- Moderate rainfall…50dB
- Conversation…55dB
- Truck driving 30mph…60dB
- Washing machine…75dB
- Traffic…80dB
- Noisy restaurant…85dB
Some everyday sounds over 90dB:
- Drill…95dB
- Standard earphones…100dB
- Car horn…110dB
- Ambulance siren…120dB
- Jackhammer…130dB
- Jet takeoff…150dB
- Rocket takeoff…200dB
Where the sound goes.
Physiology
(Psst. They used to call this anatomy.) Even soft sounds make a difference. Crickets’ chirping outside registers at 30dB, and that is enough to disturb sleep. 85dB causes a stress reaction. The human ear feels pain around 120dB.
To curb the amount of damage to your body, you must limit your exposure to sound. As the noise gets louder (and longer), your levels go up:
- Heart rate
- Sweating
- Respiration
- Stress
- Blood pressure
- Respiration
- Insomnia
Preserve Your Hearing
Practice volume control.
Do some simple things to ensure you will be able to hear Mate whisper sweet nothings in your year for decades to come. Turn down the television, music and video games. Pay attention to the noises in your home and eliminate all you can. Wear appropriate, fitted ear protection when you are in noisy places. Roll the windows up in the car to block out traffic noise. (And do not turn up the radio to compensate.)
The Honking Law
Just a bit loud.
How often do you blow your car horn? Did you know it is against the law to blow your horn except when it is reasonably necessary to operate your vehicle safely? (Dear Dads, threaten daughter’s horn blowing boyfriend with the law.)
The only other horns which are legal are alarm horns. This is not about protecting your hearing, but your safety. Civil defense sirens are designed to warn of imminent danger and need to be heard as an unusual sound.
The law really is on your ears’ side. Exposure to 110dB begins to do damage to your ears in one minute 29 seconds.
Action Point
Do your part to curb noise pollution and traffic noise. Only use your horn when absolutely necessary to ensure driving safety. Teach someone else not to use it to punctuate anger, say hello or goodbye, call people out of the house, announce arrival or protest.
Get your hearing checked. Now.
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Are you or a family member one of the 28 million affected by noise-related hearing loss? Do you make a conscious effort to reduce noise? Name a sound in your house you can eliminate. Do you follow the law about your horn? Will you make a difference?
Visit the EPA website for more information. Print this book to teach your children about noise pollution and healthy sound levels.
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prenin
/ January 27, 2012Despite being a rocker, my hearing is pretty good, but age is doing its thing so I can no longer hear high frequencies.
Protect your hearing my friends – deafness is no joke!
God Bless!
Prenin.
Red
/ January 27, 2012No, deafness is no joke. I suffer from hearing loss in one ear which interferes with telephone use, media consumption and conversations. Mine was noise-induced from a sudden impact, rather than the slower deterioration, although I am not immune to it as well.
{HUGZ}
Red.
Phil
/ January 27, 2012I didn’t truly realize the term noise pollution until I moved and lived in New York City for ten years. I developed a real sense of disdain for flippant use of car horns while living there. The din of street traffic, sirens, and impatient idiots leaning on their horns were amazingly high and even worse, constant. I believe there was a law back then, but in the city, rarely enforced.
Red
/ January 27, 2012I lived less than a block from a subway station where the rail emerged from underground. While I heard less than average sirens and traffic noise, I got brakes, exhaust and the constant sounds of the buses running to the station. You are so right about the (Hmm…polite word…hmm) drivers in the city. The law is rarely ever enforced.
We joke all the time about the 1/4 second timer attached to NY horns between the time the light turns green and the emission of the sound!
Red.
Marc Phillippe Babineau
/ January 27, 2012Great one,Red!
When I was in college, I went deaf in my left ear the night of a Def Lepperd concert. I went anyways, and half-way through I went totally deaf, I could only “hear” the differences in pressure. The next day I had my ears cleaned, afterwards I could hear a pin drop 6 blocks away. This was the end of a summer that saw me follow a Grateful Dead and a David Bowie tour, multiple cities each.
Hmm. Rock n’ Roll ain’t noise pollution, but it’s sure loud!
Red
/ January 27, 2012In most arenas, it is! The difference between percussive hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss is the permanent nature of it. Frankly, your ear dirt probably saved your hearing, even if it did present other very serious risks.
And I miss Grateful Dead concerts 🙂
raymond alexander kukkee
/ January 27, 2012“Deafness is no joke” is an understatement. I suffer from neural hearing loss,– communication by voice in a crowded room, by telephone and television/ media is almost impossible the majority of the time. No horn blowing around here, loud noises result/ in pain. Being a musician, playing ‘by ear’ is challenging for any instrument. Deafness is further aggravated by severe tinnitus which masks sounds one might hear. The ” invisible infliction”. Can you hear your own voice when you speak? Life’s tough but we suck it up and get on with it regardless. ~r
Red
/ January 27, 2012But hopefully, we are educating those who can still hear the words coming out of our mouths!! Children think parents are not understanding the need to drown out the world. We are just hoping they are able to hear the first time their own child rolls over in a crib three rooms away with the doors closed. 😉
christyb
/ January 27, 2012My dad has hearing loss. He says it is selective hearing; now does that mean he chooses to tune me out? If so, I do not approve! 🙂 Now I am off to make some noise tweeting out this one! 🙂
Red
/ January 27, 2012A sweet sound indeed, the tweet! Thanks, Chickie!
Androgoth
/ January 28, 2012I was following a car this afternoon and the sticker in the window said “If it is too loud, then YOU are too OLD” 🙂 lol Well it was loud but then again I too would have my stereo blasting out at their age, actually I tend to do that now so I guess I am not too old after all 🙂
As for the law on car horn usage, well I hardly ever use mine, unless some idiot gets on my… Well you know? 🙂 lol
Have a lovely rest of day Red 🙂
Androgoth XXx
Red
/ January 28, 2012I had a car for two years before I knew the horn did not work…and then, I only was using it to shoo a dog from the road which had caused me to come to a dead stop before he ambled from my path. *Sigh*
And I happen to like mine a bit loud as well. Good thing for me the denizens of the backseat tend to request, “Turn it up, Momma!” 😀
Red.
ansuyo
/ January 28, 2012I’m one of those who cannot tolerate loud noises, so I am constantly looking to turn it down/eliminate it. I wind up crying if my husband runs the sweeper too long – yes he does, and yes, it’s that bad!
Keep telling those with buds in their ear constantly (IPod, ….) that they will pay the price some day. But what do I know? I’m just an old fogey. Anyway, good post:) Angie
Red
/ January 28, 2012There are enough of us who are proof hearing loss hurts…pain and quality of life. Little Bear cannot abide certain pitches at all. It is not for the old only!
Red.
jennygoth
/ January 28, 2012i have a constant ringing in my ears so need noise to stop me listening to it i love loud rock music but i think we do take our senses for granted i havent been able to smell or taste for three weeks and its been miserable so we should take care of our gifts better xxjen
Red
/ January 28, 2012Oh, dear. Tinnitus is so awful. I am with you both on the loud and the Ozzy.
Thank you for the good advice,
Red.
xxx
lorrelee1970
/ January 29, 2012No we aren’t, but it sounds like we will be. I hate using my horn and I hate when others use it.
My daughter’s loud yelling is probably the single worst noise in our home. I will take you posting as a sign to put a muzzle on her.
Red
/ January 29, 2012I have a daughter who is the same way. She may not understand everything I tell her, but she certainly understands “Volume Control”.