IT’S TOO NOISY TO THINK

 

As our world become more mechanized, the problem of noise pollution increases. Noise- unwanted sound- bombards us every day, at work, at home and when we play (during recreational activities). It also bombards the tinny hair cells in our ears. Construction sites, traffic, and the neighbor’s lawnmower are just a few sources of unwanted noise that are not only annoying, but also impacting our health. Recent studies have found a connection between noise and stress, poor sleep, and even cardiovascular disease.

Loud or prolonged noise can permanently destroy these tiny hairs cells, causing loss of hearing. The damage may be gradual, painless and invisible, but it’s permanent once it occurs. Frankly speaking many will be unaware of their gradual loss of hearing until they lose about 30 percent of their hearing acuity.

Millions of people are exposed to hazardous noise on and off the job every day. Hence, you need to learn how you can protect your hearing at work, at home and when you play, to make sure you keep hearing the good sounds of life- your favourite music, a baby laughing, birds singing and much more.

As the landscapes of our towns and cities continue to grow and expand, so too does the amount of noise we each encounter every day. With the increased prevalence of disruptive noise, more people are looking for ways to eliminate these disturbances.  

HELPFUL TIPS ON HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HEAR

Your ears are always at work, whether you are or not. It is important to apply the same principles you can learn to reduce noise hazards at work, home and play, all day long, including wearing protectors.

To keep the best possible hearing for the rest of your life, take good care of your ears. Follow these ear-saving tips for around the clock protection

Wear hearing protectors at home.

Guard against hearing loss by wearing hearing protectors at home while working around the house. Power tools, lawn mowers, neighbor’s generator set and when using yours too. All these can cause permanent hearing loss that you might not notice until it’s too late.

During recreational activities

Motorcycles and speed boats for those who love boat ride can create noise above the caution zone (85-90dBA). So you need to apply caution and protect your hearing.

Avoid loud music and place that are noisy

When listening to music, live or recorded, don’t sit close to the sound source, get use to lower volumes. Don’t blast your hear with ear phones

Choose quite appliances

When buying household appliances such as dishwashers, blender, vacuum cleaners and generating set, select quieter models. Ask about the decibel levels and consult with the consumer guides.

Escape  

Rest yours ears in a quiet environment, even if only for a few minutes at a time. A quiet break gives your jangled hairs cells a chance to recover from the noisy environment. When possible take a vacation from noise.

The hairs cells you have are the only ones you will ever get. Watch out for them, don’t loose them.