subject: The Serious Damage That Noise Can Make [print this page] The Serious Damage That Noise Can Make The Serious Damage That Noise Can Make
A famous ear physician twiddled with his hearing aid controls nervously. He believes that, if things continue as they are today, almost all people in the big cities will have some hearing loss. A noise fighter in California and ear doctor, this gentleman is with others on this. Jackhammers, airplanes, air conditioners, and motor vehicles are being pointed at by environmentalists as potential noise sources.
. They seem to be doing well so far. Things could be improved on the anti noise bill, environmentalists claim. With the anti noise ordinance passed by New York City, even ice cream vendors have to limit the number of times they jingle their bells.
But still, as the popular song of a few years ago says, the beat goes on. Noise exposure can lead to birth defects, hearing loss, and nervous breakdowns. Around 20percent of all Americans who hear so much noise are prone to develop severe hearing loss, according the report made by the Environmental Pollution Agency.
The noise causes some form of impairment to about 80 million American citizens, according to the report. Now an occupational hazard, hearing loss is experienced by those who work in noisy industries, and these number to about 17 million. Those exposed to noise may have experiences similar to the man who lives near a factory with roaring fans or to the child who lives near the Los Angeles International Airport.
Because of the loud roar of big jets, teachers near the airport have to use bullhorns. School officials state that children are prone to joining more fights because they are irritated to the noise. Research reveals that children are prone to develop serious hearing loss primarily since they are exposed to an area full of noise. Noise levels in these classrooms are more intense than those in other areas.
Faster heartbeat and muscle contraction are experienced by a fetus when exposed to loud noise. Hyperactivity, unhappiness, and irritability result from exposure to noise. A person affected by noise would usually turn in work of poor quality.
Although the person's output may be the same, what is affected is his performance in coming up with the output. Besides sore throat, lack of sleep is also an effect of noise exposure. People would feel irritable because, although they got to sleep, they didn't feel rested at all.
Apparently, loss of hearing comes from overexposure to noise and not age, as shown by studies of African tribes. Members of the tribe are able to hear from great distances, while their aged can hear just as well as as the average young American.
Their middle aged tribesmen don't suffer the hearing loss experienced by those of the same age who were involved in gunshot battles. As the men who heard these noises approach older age, they begin to experience hearing loss.
