You’re going deaf, but it’s not because of age.
Do you regularly take walks through a busy city full of cars, honking horns, and roaring engines? Do you find yourself turning your music up so you can hear it over the drone of an airplane? Do you work near loud work zones such as airports, factories, or construction areas?
You may be going deaf from the effects of noise pollution. But what is noise pollution?
Keep reading to learn about this silent eardrum killer, and what you can do to avoid it.
What Is Noise Pollution?
In short, noise pollution is a loud everyday environment that contributes to slow hearing loss. While you may not be surrounded by jet engines and buzzing saws, it doesn’t take the loudest sounds for you to go deaf. All you need are sounds that cause minimal hearing damage, but which you are exposed to on a regular basis.
The types of noise pollution vary depending on your daily routine. Living near busy roadways and walking by them on a daily basis can expose you to quite a lot of noise.
Noise pollution affects some careers more heavily than others. Pilots and factory workers that do not use hearing protection risk serious hearing loss. Soldiers and construction workers often experience extremely loud sounds on a regular basis.
The point is, the effects of noise pollution can make you go deaf in seemingly quiet environments. For example, if you have a loud, droning office fan blowing for 8 hours a day, you may be suffering from noise-pollution-induced hearing loss.
How Can You Mitigate the Effects of Noise Pollution?
Whether you’re at a basketball game, walking down a busy market street, or in a loud restaurant, you want to protect yourself from noise pollution.
It never hurts to get yourself a nice pair of earplugs. There are earplugs that will completely block out sound, and earplugs that will reduce the more harmful frequencies so you can still have a conversation. These earplugs come in small cases that you can take with you anywhere, in case you’re suddenly exposed to sounds that are played at an uncomfortable volume.
If you have a regular commute on public transportation, get yourself a decent pair of noise-canceling headphones. This may seem like a costly investment, but your hearing is priceless. It’s almost impossible to get it back once it’s gone.
In the event you’re already suffering from the effects of noise pollution, there is sound therapy, such as threshold sound conditioning that will help to retrain some of those lost frequencies.
Don’t Wait to Prevent Hearing Loss
You don’t want to lose the ability to listen to your favorite songs, or the sound of your child laughing. Furthermore, hearing affects your ability to work and perform regular tasks.
This is not something you can shrug off, but should be taken care of today. The unfortunate reality is that our cities aren’t getting any quieter. Preemptive measures may prolong the hearing that is so precious to you.
Though hope is not lost if you already suffer from hearing loss. Check out AudioCardio for a sound therapy that can address those frequencies that you may have lost.
