How noise pollution is ruining your hearing

Our ears are exposed to dangerous levels of noise every single day.

Health organizations warn that continual exposure to noise levels above 70 decibels can potentially damage your ears. And yet we are routinely exposed to noise much louder than that in everyday situations.

Our world is increasingly noisy and our bars, restaurants, gyms, and streets all produce decibel levels that can cause harm to our hearing in mere minutes.

Hearing loss is incredibly common and is the fourth highest disability worldwide. One in four American adults shows signs of noise-induced hearing loss, and the problem is only going to get worse.

While hearing damage is irreversible, it's also completely preventable. Watch for tips on how to protect your ears even in incredibly loud environments.

For more of Julia's reporting on noise and hearing loss check out her articles:

To check the noise levels around you download an app like Decibel Sound Meter Pro:

[jonathanmukeng]

Who turned down their volume while watching this?

[Crazelord]

Vox: makes a video about how noise pollution and headphones are killing our hearing and how to prevent it, and then ends the video with a sudden cut to a much louder and staticy clip that hurts your ears...

[sewingwhales]

As someone who has long complained that coffee shops now sound like bars and restaurants like nightclubs, only to be told off for being "too sensitive" to sound... THERE ARE DOZENS OF US! DOZENS!!!

[kushkamble]

One of my deep dark fears is to lose the ability to hear and can't listen to music

[arandomdragon]

The best way to fix the problem is, in my opinion, add noise pollution to health and safety codes. Exceeding 100db should automatically lose a letter grade form the ratting.

[SciencewithKatie]

I work in a hospital lab and the noise from the analysers makes me hear ringing in my ears just after I leave work! I can hear it as soon as I close the door in my car. I really wanna check the decibel levels now 🙉

[mksabourinable]

There's also high fidelity ear plugs!! They allow stuff like talking to get through, but anything above 80db gets blocked!! They are seriously a life saver.

(I have auditory processing issues and with them I can comfortably talk to someone in a noisy environment, whereas that's impossible otherwise.)

[ronzacharias]

this is so important. I cant imagine a time ij my life where i didnt protect my hearing and wouldnt be able to listen to the music i love or the voices of my loved ones properly. Please protect your hearing!

[metfanl]

Well, at least once my hearing's ruined all the noises won't bother me as much...

[JustinY.]

Wait what's that? I can't hear what you're because of this ringing in my ear

[annebremen]

jokes on you. I already ruined my hearing myself, by listening to music at volume 100

[jrchicago]

I traveled a lot - learned that hotels and hallways with kids running in
them and louder ambient noises not like home were messing with a good
nights sleep. I experimented with different ear plugs and found that
Flents "Quiet Please" use once or twice and toss works wonders all night
long. Had a sump pump in the basement at home directly under the
master bedroom. The pump back-check valve thump when it rained annoyed
me as it was different. I started using the ear plugs at home. Now
decades later, I wont sleep without them - anywhere. I buy these in a
bulk container.

The Bose noise canceling headphones were perfect
for flight (I began to loathe the open cabin sound of airplanes and
airports have little noise of need - I set alarms on my phone for
flights so I know when to check flight display monitors). I use these
for hours daily with my Ipad and listen to Channels of interest - even
in the car.

Its like finding out that silence or good control of sound is preferential almost always.

I also find that there is a slowing down effect - so focus is
intentional. I can listen to concentration music specifically on
yourtube that permit me full simple and deliberate focus on the issue at
hand and I deal with things on time and efficiently. Its literally
like finding a vane of pure gold.

A few hints... Quiet please
by Flents are good for one or two uses - I buy in a large container very
cost effectively. Buy a small supply at first form the drug store.
Only the Bose has an elastomer oval pod that fits my ear better than the
common circle buds. I find circular buds to hurt when wearing over an
hour. Keep them clean daily with ZEISS Wipes (used for eye glasses) -
buy in bulk. They don't scratch glasses either.

[glorysky]

" *ear* - reversible ear damage"

[insekt]

The guy wearing the grey shirt at 1:45 is having the time of his life with that coffee

[LashanR]

I long for a cure to tinnitus in my lifetime.

[KeepOnDreamingDude]

"Turns down headphone volume"

[tertiary]

Modern restaurant designers have lost their minds.. Chipotle and Pieology on the west coast are VERY loud inside with their design choices. Concrete floors, metal chairs with no pads (what?!) that slide around loudly, no acoustic tiles or foam in bare industrial looking ceilings, bare walls that reflect sounds.. on and on. Then they pump up the music to try and drown out the other noise right above where you order so you have to yell to the employee. Nation of idiots.

[CuriosityCulture]

This is a long way of saying... go into nature once in awhile. It's good for the soul :)

[AlJalandhari]

I hate learning about new health/environmental problems caused by modern life

[Bejunckt]

Sometimes I commute wearing ear plugs because of noise pollution. I think it definitely helps me.