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Many people listen to music using headphones, and by doing so they only subject themselves to loud sounds, not anyone else. When individuals attend concerts or go to clubs, they are making a choice to be at a place where things get noisy. However, when your next-door neighbors play songs on loudspeakers, they expose everyone around them to high decibels (dB) of sound.
Hearing music can be relaxing, but regularly listening to songs at high volume can be dangerous. Studies show prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can lead to hearing impairment.
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While you can’t really escape everyday commotion, when it comes to certain activities like music events, bars, and nightclubs, you can choose to control your exposure. Many young adults enjoy leisure-noise exposure these days. For instance, they feel motivated to work out when they listen to peppy songs. Other factors include personal preference, socializing, or a desire for rebelliousness.
A 2022 study revealed that unsafe music listening habits are putting 1.35 billion young adults at risk of damaging their hearing. Researchers found that people between the ages of 18 and 34 listen to loud music at entertainment venues for unsafe lengths of time. While it might be an enjoyable activity for individuals, they are risking their future ear health by doing so.
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Among young people, a major source of leisure-noise exposure is nightclubs. Loud music is beneficial for businesses, as people tend to drink more when there is less social interaction. In the absence of any conversation, people quickly finish their cocktails or mocktails. Clubbers, on average, experience continuous noise levels of close to 98 dB if they spend roughly five hours a week at a disco. Clubbing for 10 years generates more than 60% of the maximum noise exposure acceptable for a working life of 42 years.
So how much is too much? Anything below 85 dB is okay. For instance, when you're walking down a bustling street, you will encounter various sounds, such as honking cars, people talking, and occasional construction work. Such noises combined fall within the range of around 70 to 85 dB. Anything louder than that might require hearing protection.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, USA, suggests that you shouldn’t be exposed to 90 dB for more than 8 hours per day. In a busy restaurant, the overall ambient noise level—a lot of conversations, clinking dishes, chaotic kitchen noise, and other background sounds—can reach around 90 dB.
Being exposed to 100 dB for more than 15 minutes is usually not recommended. When you attend a rock concert in a small venue, the volume is generally high to create a vibrant atmosphere. In such places, chances are the music reaches 100 dB or even higher, especially near the stage or speakers.
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Loud noises pose a threat to ear health as they might damage the outer hair cells in the ear’s cochlea. Sam Couth, an ear-health researcher at the University of Manchester, said, “These cells are responsible for amplifying sounds; they help us to hear things better. If they are damaged by loud noise, they are not going to amplify everyday sounds, and we’re not going to be able to hear as well.”
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To lower your risk, you should avoid exposure to loud areas, especially places where the sound is exceeding 85 decibels. If you are in a tiny space, it’s best to stand a little far away from the source of the sound. And if you're unsure about the noise level, there are many mobile apps that help you measure it. Taking regular breaks from noisy environments gives you time to recover. So, while attending a concert, you can take a 10-minute break after an hour or so.
When you use headphones, keep the volume at a reasonable level. You can also use the noise-canceling feature to block out external sounds when you are in a noisy place. Alternatively, you can wear earplugs or earmuffs as well. This is especially important for people who work in noisy environments, like construction sites or clubs. Taking proactive measures to protect your hearing is important. You should try to schedule regular hearing assessments with an audiologist as well.
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If you are exposed to loud sounds because of people like your neighbors, it’s best to have a chat with them. You can try to explain to them the impact of their actions. Maybe share this post with them. And if talking doesn’t help, you can approach all the others in the neighborhood who are disturbed by their actions. Collectively, you can figure out a solution for the problem.
If the problem persists, you can also try to block the sound by using a white noise machine, installing noise-reducing curtains, or filling your space with furniture to better absorb the sound. Have you ever had a neighbor who blasted music all the time? Share your experience with us in the comments.
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