Environmental Sounds and Hearing Loss
Environmental sounds can cause hearing loss if the sound is loud enough
and the exposure long enough.
December
2000 - Another recently identified cause of hearing loss is
environmental noise. And this is affection younger
and younger patients.
December 2005 -
"Noise Pollution" and hearing loss
October 2006
- Study of NYC transit system noise levels finds
daily rides can result in hearing loss
April 2008 -
Customers Like Loud
Restaurants
May 2008 -
Can Loud Stores Cause Hearing Loss?
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December
2005
"The
teeth-jarring rat-a-tat-tat of the pile driver outside my window has
momentarily quieted, and I jump at the absence of the noise. Apparently
one can get used to anything. But should I have to? And what damage is
all that noise doing to me? A lot, apparently. Research on "noise
pollution" . . . shows continued exposure to loud noise will cause
hearing loss. . . . studies have correlated noise with
physiological changes in sleep, blood pressure and digestion, negative
impacts on developing fetuses, and is one of the most common forms of
sleep disturbance." Full
story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May 2008
You might need to wear ear plugs the next time
you're shopping in your favorite retail store. Loud music blaring from store
speakers is the hot new trend. But is the music just a nuisance or damaging
to your ears? Clothing stores like Abercrombie and Fitch are attracting
younger crowds by "pumping up the volume." . . . So how loud is the music
routinely inside Abercrombie and Fitch? We used a decibel meter to check and
it pegged at 85 decibels. That's about the same level as busy city traffic,
or an idling bulldozer. Your lawnmower and hair dryer are just slightly
louder with decibel readings in the low 90's. Doctor Michael Winston,
director of audiology at UAMS, saysm "A level of 85 is considered hazardous
if you're exposed to it for more than eight hours a day." Customers usually
don't spend eights hours in one store, but employees do.
Full Story
