Dealing with Noise Pollution in Your Neighborhood

Noises are all around us. From traffic noises and construction sites to barking dogs and the school around the corner from your house, we live in very noisy environments. Sounds are everywhere, but when these sounds become aggravating, we call in noise, and when this noise builds up to dangerous levels, we refer to it as noise pollution. Noise pollution reaches us everywhere, both day and night. It can cause hearing loss, and have a negative effect on our mental and physical health.

The Negative Effects of Noise Pollution

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns us about hearing loss caused by noise pollution. “Excessive noise seriously harms human health and interferes with people’s daily activities at school, at work, at home, and during leisure time,” they state on their website. Noise pollution is a huge problem, and its estimated that around 30 million Americans are exposed to dangerous noise levels on a daily basis.

Being exposed to so much noise can lead to a host of problems, the most obvious being hearing loss and tinnitus, that ringing or buzzing in the ears. However, noise pollution can also cause sleep disturbances, insomnia, cardiovascular problems, pain, lowered concentration, poor work performance, and increased stress, which affects both metabolism and immune system function.

Temporary vs Permanent Noise Pollution

If your daily commute takes you through areas with a lot of noise pollution, chances are you aren’t too bothered by it. It’s loud for a few minutes while you’re driving beside the train tracks or passing a construction site, but the noise doesn’t seem that bad. But when your everyday environment is very loud, it’s a different story. You try to maintain a peaceful environment at home, and create a calm place to relax from your stressful day. No one wants to have to stay indoors, or keep the windows closed to try to block out the annoying sounds pervading the neighborhood.

Sources of Neighborhood Noise Pollution

The most common sources of noise pollution are traffic sounds from any nearby highways, and include air brakes, sirens, vehicles that aren’t well maintained, and honking horns. Anyone living near an airport knows that noise pollution from the air is hard to handle, as every few minutes a jet goes roaring by overhead. Sports arenas or music venues also generate a lot of noise pollution, as does your local fire station or police station, and any schools in your neighborhood. Home machinery, such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, power tools, or vacuum cleaners are another source of noise pollution, as are barking dogs and even playing children.

Protecting Your Family from Noise Pollution

No one wants to be surrounded by noise pollution, so here are a few steps you can take to have a peaceful neighborhood and keep your hearing safe. In most residential areas in the U.S., strict laws enforce noise pollution levels. These include quiet hours, usually between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., during which time noise must be kept to a minimum. You can approach your local law enforcement to report excessive noise pollution happening during the night.

To protect yourself from daytime noise pollution, the first thing you can do is build a fence around your yard to act as a sound barrier to block out the excessive noise. Plant lots of trees or shrubs in your yard, as these will not only look beautiful but also absorb unwanted sounds. Another option is to add a water feature to your yard, such as a fountain, which would act as white noise to drown out the background noise pollution.

Inside the house, try to dampen the sounds by putting carpets in the bedrooms, and drapes on the windows. You can even put foam under major appliances to soften their noises. Don’t turn up the TV volume too loud, and make sure your teenager isn’t blasting music in their room. This will rest your ears, and lower the noise pollution in your life.

Treating Hearing Loss

If you live in a noisy neighborhood and you’re struggling with hearing loss or tinnitus, visit us today at Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services to test your hearing. We’ll help you understand your hearing loss, and work to find the perfect hearing device that will help you manage tinnitus and make communication a breeze.