THE INESCAPABLE SOUND OF NOISE
You rarely hear the saying, "It's so quiet, you can hear a pin drop" anymore.
Perhaps that's because it's rarely so quiet — not at home, not at work, not
even in recreational areas such as our parks. Everywhere, relentlessly, we're
surrounded by sound. But more important, we're surrounded by noise.
"Noise" is loosely defined as annoying sounds, but one person's sound may be
another person's noise. Loudness doubles with every increase of 10 decibels
(dB). To better understand this, consider that a whisper registers
approximately 30 dB and normal conversation about 50 to 60 dB, while a ringing
phone may be as much as 80 dB!
Noise may not just be annoying; at high intensity it can
be positively damaging. Our ears weren't meant to endure a constant cacophony
of loud sounds. As a result, millions of our countrymen suffer from the
phenomenen of NIHL (Noise-induced hearing loss). Though that may sound like an
exotic professional sports league, believe me, NIHL isn't a club I'd ever
invite you to join.
Most people suffer some loss of hearing as they age, but prolonged exposure to
noise needlessly accelerates the process. In developing countries like ours,
occupational noise and urban, environmental noise are major risk factors, while
in developed countries, risk from social noise is increasing, especially for
youngsters.
Initial symptoms include a gradual decrease in sound or a growing distortion,
particularly of speech comprehension. Because it comes on slowly, a person with
NIHL may not notice the impairment at first. Finally, unlike many injuries or
illnesses, hearing loss is permanent and irreversible. In addition, NIHL makes
it difficult to experience and enjoy not only sound, but silence as well - it
is one of the most common culprits causing tinnitus, which often, too, is
irreversible.
What can be done to curb NIHL? A few suggestions: -
(1) National programmes should be established, addressing general educational
needs and particular risk situations, especially in co-ordination with NGOs and
other interested parties.
(2)Increasing public awareness about harmful effects of noise on hearing and
about prevention and control of NIHL, including hearing conservation. Routine,
regular dissemination of information through TV / Radio suggested.
(3) Effective legislation and specific programmes to be chalked out to deal
with the major problem of "occupational" noise.Personnel must be trained to
carry out noise surveys and audiometric testing of susceptible populace.
(4) Traffic Noise, an unpleasant sequel of rapid urbanisation, needs to
be tackled on a war footing by,say, devising and enforcing regulations
promoting proper use of silencers, effective land use planning and using
quieter technology.
(5)Usage of Acoustic barriers / Hearing Protection Devices like earplugs or ear
muffs in industries where workers can't be moved away from the noise source
entirely and by people who regularly use firearms, eg in shooting ranges.
(6) Personal There are several steps you can take to reduce noise in your own
community and protect your hearing—and get peace of mind. A few of them are:
(a) Turn down the volume of your TVs / personal stereos. Do not listen to loud
music on your "Walkman" or "Discman" continuously for long periods of time.
(b) Protect yourself by using earplugs and ensure reduction in volume of loud
music played in shared public places like gyms, aerobic/dancing classes, etc.
(c )Reduce your exposure by avoiding going to loud bars, restaurants, or, say,
discos for hours at a time. And, of course, keep diligently away from loud
fireworks (150db) especially during festivals like Diwali!
Always remember: Noise pollution isn't something that you should just accept as
a fact of modern life. NIHL is preventable if we take responsibility for the
health of our ears and if we work with others to lessen the impact that noise
has in the workplace, the community, and in our very own homes.
.
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